Posting number: IIC 04187 8/7/2026
Department: Colorado Department of Human Services
Division: OBH - CMHIFL
Job classification: Addiction Specialist II
Posting type: Open
Categories: Social Services, Human Services
Summary20260518145540_CDHS logo.jpgThis position is open to current Colorado residents only.
The Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan (CMHH-FL) is one of two state hospitals serving our community. The vision of CMHH-FL is to provide the highest quality mental health services to persons with complex, serious, and persistent mental illness within the resources available. Our mission is to support those individuals in achieving their recovery goals and reaching their full potential. CMHH-FL provides inpatient treatment to adult patients, generally between the ages of 18-59. The hospital currently has 160 adult inpatient beds, over seven treatment milieus serving civil and forensic individuals. Medical services, occupational therapy, neuropsychological-rehabilitation services, and trauma-informed care services are available for all patients throughout the hospital.
The Addiction Specialist position works in the 24-hour State psychiatric hospital with individuals voluntarily and involuntarily committed for treatment. Patients receiving treatment at CMHH-FL have severe and persistent mental illness and may have traumatic brain injury, trauma disorders, and other complex dynamics. Each treatment team is multidisciplinary, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, addiction specialists, occupational therapists, recreation therapists, creative arts therapists, nurses, physicians, and mental health clinicians. In addition, the hospital offers dietary, peer, and chaplain services. Examples of dutiesYou are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times.
Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.
The Addiction Specialist manages the full continuum of specialized substance use and co-occurring disorder services within an acute inpatient state psychiatric setting. This position is responsible for conducting initial substance screenings and comprehensive clinical assessments, delivering evidence-based individual and group therapeutic interventions, and formulating harm-reduction strategies tailored to civil and forensic patient populations.
The position actively integrates addiction treatment into multidisciplinary care by participating in Master Treatment Plan (MTP) reviews, updating Interdisciplinary Plans of Care (IPOC), and providing clinical consultation to the broader treatment team. Additionally, the Addiction Specialist coordinates community reintegration and discharge planning—linking patients to geographic-specific recovery resources and escorting eligible individuals to mutual aid meetings—while providing operational, milieu, and educational support across the hospital. Other duties include:
Group Facilitation & Harm Reduction Education:
- To foster addiction recovery and symptom management, the Addiction Specialist implements structured, evidence-based group interventions within both civil and forensic treatment units.
- Develops specialized curricula and runs weekly harm-reduction and educational groups throughout hospital units, modifying clinical materials to meet the needs of individuals with varying intellectual functioning, cognitive levels, and active psychiatric symptomatology. By incorporating trauma-informed frameworks and motivational interviewing, the role engages patients during group sessions to navigate conversations on substance use, coping mechanisms, and relapse prevention.
- Collaborates with community volunteers to incorporate external recovery networks, including Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, into the hospital's therapeutic setting.
- Provides dedicated individual clinical care, serving as the subject matter expert on substance use disorders within the multidisciplinary treatment team. Responsibilities include maintaining a direct clinical caseload, offering targeted substance use psychoeducation, harm reduction counseling, and individualized therapy focused on patient-centered recovery.
- Formulates, updates, and reviews Interdisciplinary Plan of Care (IPOC) interventions, meets at least monthly with patients to evaluate progress and adjust treatment plans, and actively participates in treatment plan reviews.
- Involves continuous collaboration with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and nursing staff to coordinate care by providing clinical recommendations regarding the interaction between substance use disorders and psychiatric symptoms.
- Initiates substance screenings and diagnostic evaluations for all admitting patients to inform clinical care and treatment planning across the hospital. This includes systematically monitoring all hospital admissions and forensic transfers to administer standardized screening tools, specifically the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), shortly after intake.
- Conducts and documents comprehensive substance use assessments within two weeks of initiating individual therapy sessions.
- Completes all screenings, assessments, and clinical observations in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) within designated institutional timelines to ensure seamless interdisciplinary communication.
- Bridges inpatient care and community-based recovery by assisting in preparing tailored discharge plans and facilitating direct community transitions.
- Involves compiling and providing individualized addiction recovery resource packages, such as local NA/AA meetings, harm reduction programs, and specialized outpatient services matched to the patient’s specific post-discharge geographic location.
- Facilitates community reintegration by organizing and escorting eligible patients off-campus to community-based recovery meetings and support networks when clinically appropriate, while also collaborating with outpatient community providers, recovery residences, and support systems to ensure continuity of care upon discharge.
- Provides flexible operational, milieu, and educational support to maintain hospital safety and advance staff development.
- Assists with critical operational needs such as providing emergency group coverage, court hearing supervision, family visitation monitoring, patient transports, cafeteria and treatment mall escorts, and supplemental unit staffing.
Applicant must possess a current, valid certification from the State of Colorado as:
a Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) OR
an Addiction Counselor Candidate (AC-C) OR
a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)
Special Qualifications: Must possess one of the licenses below to meet minimum qualifications
a Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) OR
an Addiction Counselor Candidate (AC-C) OR
a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in Addiction/ Substance Use Recovery treatment.
Certified Addiction Specialist or Licensed Addiction Specialist
- Full Background: CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons):
CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, TRAILS (child abuse/ neglect database system check), Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), CAPS (direct contact with adults – Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers)) - Use, Handling, or Exposure to hazardous materials – Explain: May be exposed to bodily fluids or caustic chemicals
- Other: 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire. Annual influenza vaccination, COVID, and other vaccinations as required by the State of Colorado.
- Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:
Disclose that information on the application.
Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.
Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.
CDHS Selection Process Explanation:
Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements.
Preferred Qualifications & Competencies:
Relevant years of state service experience.
Minimum Qualification Screening Process:
A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position. You must complete the official State of Colorado online application. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."
You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process. Part-time work experience will be prorated.
Comparative Analysis Process – Structured Application Review:
After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve reviewing and rating all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing.
Your Work Experience/Job Duties:
Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications.
If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.
Supplemental Questions:
Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).
Appeal Rights:
You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated. You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website.
You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.
You can find the official appeal form here.
You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:
By email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), or
Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or
Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or
Faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.
Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:
At (303) 866-3300, or
Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.
How to apply to the State of Colorado(Youtube Video, Runtime 3:59, Closed Captions Available)
About Us & Benefits
If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:
Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
*Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.
Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.
We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.
Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.
We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.
Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.
CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment.
This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to cdhs_ada@state.co.us.
EEO Statement
The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer
We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.
Additional Support For Your ApplicationToll Free Applicant Technical Support
If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.