Job Description

The Criminal Justice and Victimization Institute (CJVI) at Colorado State University, in partnership with Larimer County Community Corrections (LCCC), is launching Bridging the Gap — the first tobacco cessation program embedded within a Colorado community corrections (CC) facility. Residential CC is a non-traditional custodial setting that provides a structured, supervised (non-closed-custody) living environment where justice-involved individuals access programming like employment services and substance use treatment to support successful reentry into the community. CC clients have community access, are regularly working and engaging in our communities, and staff are not certified law enforcement but instead civilian staff. Tobacco use among CC clients is estimated at 60–90%, yet no formal cessation program has previously existed in this setting. LCCC serves an average of 350–400+ clients daily, with an average residential stay of approximately 200 days — offering a meaningful window for sustained, trust-based cessation support.

This program integrates individual and group behavioral counseling with combination nicotine replacement therapy (c-NRT, nicotine patches plus nicotine gum or lozenges), grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and participatory approaches developed with LCCC clients and staff. The initiative is funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and aligns with Colorado's 2030 Tobacco Education, Prevention, and Cessation Strategic Plan.

Position Summary:

The Tobacco Interventionist will be the primary point of contact for justice-involved clients participating in the tobacco cessation program and will be responsible for the direct delivery of all tobacco intervention services at LCCC. This is a client-facing, on-site role requiring comfort working within a community corrections environment and a strong commitment to ethical, person-centered care for justice-involved populations. The Tobacco Interventionist will be independently working with and engaging CC clients without consistent supervision from other CC staff. Position is conditional upon a background check.

This position will be housed in the Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences; and will be supervised by Dr. Jessica Elf.

For full consideration, applications should be submitted by Sunday, December 6, 2026, 11:59 pm (MT).

Essential Job Duties:

• Deliver individual behavioral counseling sessions to participants every other week over an eight-week course (approximately 45 minutes per session), using motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral approaches adapted for justice-involved populations.
• Facilitate weekly Open group counseling sessions (available to all clients who use tobacco) and Engaged group counseling sessions (for clients enrolled in individual counseling), each approximately 60–90 minutes.
• Dispense and provide education on combination nicotine replacement therapy (patches plus gum or lozenges), including proper use, dosing, tapering, and possible side effects, in accordance with label instructions and facility medication protocols.
• Serve as the dedicated point of contact for client referrals, including staffing a dedicated program phone line and email.
• Help clients who have Medicaid and a primary care provider access c-NRT coverage through their provider when appropriate.
• Accurately track and document session attendance and dosage hours for each client activity, and submit records to LCCC Programs staff in accordance with Division of Criminal Justice dosage-hour requirements.
• Connect participating clients to complementary pro-social activities at LCCC (e.g., running club and similar programming).
• Attend all project team meetings and quarterly Advisory Board meetings; contribute front-line implementation perspective to program refinement.
• Participate in ongoing training, including a state-provided tobacco treatment training, the STEPP Tobacco Treatment Specialist training (travel supported by program funds), and trauma-informed care and other training specific to justice-involved populations.
• Support recruitment efforts by contributing to accessible, non-stigmatizing program materials in collaboration with clients and LCCC staff.

Training and Support Provided:

The Tobacco Interventionist will receive tobacco treatment training provided by the State, and trauma-informed care and other training tailored to justice-involved populations, facilitated by the Criminal Justice and Victimization Institute (CJVI) leadership and LCCC partners. Ongoing clinical and implementation oversight will be provided by the project's Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator.

Conditions of Employment:

• Pre-employment Background Check (required for all new hires).
• Integrity Interview.
• External background check conducted by Larimer County Community Corrections.
• Position requires employee to work on-site at a community corrections facility.
• Benefit Information: Employee Benefit information can be found on HR’s Website:  https://hr.colostate.edu/current-employees/benefits/.

Supervision:

• Position does not have any formal supervisory responsibilities.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in clinical psychology, social work, counseling, or a closely related field, OR a Bachelor's degree in clinical psychology, social work, counseling or a closely related field plus 3 years of relevant experience.
• Strong interpersonal and oral and written communication skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with justice-involved individuals.
• Ability to work independently on-site at a community corrections facility and to maintain appropriate professional boundaries within a correctional setting.
• Commitment to trauma-informed, non-judgmental, and culturally responsive care.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail for accurate clinical and dosage-hour documentation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience delivering motivational interviewing and/or cognitive behavioral therapy.
• Experience working with justice-involved, high-barrier, or other vulnerable populations.
• Prior experience with tobacco cessation counseling or pharmacotherapy (e.g., NRG) education.
• Familiarity with community corrections, criminal justice, or behavioral health settings.

Additional Information:

• For questions about the position, contact Dr. Jessica Elf - jessica.elf@colostate.edu.
• For questions about the application process, contact Jean Runyan - jean.runyan@colostate.edu.

Salary Range

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

• Review our detailed benefits information here.

• Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

• For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.

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Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.