Purpose of Position
JOB SUMMARY
The job duties of the Options Counselor include but are not limited to providing the following types of services to older adults, persons with disabilities, and their families, friends, caregivers and advocates: information and assistance, options counseling, access to public and private programs and benefits, access to publicly funded long-term care programs and services, enrollment and disenrollment counseling, access to emergency and adult protective services, transitional services for students, consumer and ADRC advocacy, and outreach activities.
Click here for full position description: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/chippewa/classspecs
Application Deadline: Sunday, November 29, 2026 at 4:30pm to be considered for an interview. Interviews will be conducted on Monday, December 7th 2026
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The duties described below are indicative of what the Options Counselor might be asked to perform. This job description is to incorporate any county ordinances created for the position of Options Counselor. This is not an exhaustive list of job responsibilities and therefore other duties may be assigned:
Administrative Functions:
- Work to achieve involvement and participation of the consumer, consumer’s family, and consumer’s natural support system in resolving problems.
- Evaluate consumer’s immediate situation and provide information about options available to meet current needs.
- Refer consumers to appropriate resources in crisis situations.
- Educate consumers about available community resources and how to independently gain access to needed services. Assist with accessing when consumer is not able to do so independently.
- Advise consumers when services are neither available nor appropriate. Advocate on behalf of the consumer when barriers exist.
- Complete written documentation in a timely manner as required by state contract.
- Develop professional knowledge and skills by attending training events, conferences, workshops and staff meetings.
- Speak to the community and other organizations to provide public education about ADRC related programs and services.
- Develop and maintain the ability to problem-solve and to perform duties in an independent manner while exercising good judgment.
- Provide Options Counseling using Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) required model.
- Administer Long Term Care Functional Screen for those requesting, using Wisconsin DHS required process.
- Provide Enrollment Counseling for individuals wishing to enroll into the Medicaid Family Care or IRIS program.
- Provide Fiscal Employer Agent (FEA) Enrollment Counseling for those enrolling in IRIS.
- Provide information and counseling to consumers in the process of disenrollment from Family Care or IRIS.
- Provide Memory Screening using tools and protocols established by Wisconsin DHS.
- Use discretion with consumers; observe rules of confidentiality and maintain non-judgmental attitude.
- Maintain confidentiality and HIPAA compliance in all consumer related activities.
- Other duties as assigned or indicated in the state contract’s Scope of Services.
- Participate in ADRC strategic planning and engagement activities.
Customers:
- Persons age 60+, persons age 17 ½ + with disabilities, and families, friends, caregivers, advocates and others who ask for assistance on their behalf
Team Members:
- Co-workers
- Community partners
- Potential community partners
Minimum Qualifications
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required at the time of hire or for the continuation of employment.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor degree in a Health or Human Services related field required.
- State of Wisconsin Long Term Care Functional Screen Certification required within one (1) year of hire.
- Certified Memory Screener required within one (1) year of hire.
- Certified Options Counselor required within six (6) months of hire.
- Social Work Certification within three (3) years of hire preferred.
- Minimum of one year experience working with older persons, adults with disabilities or family caregivers
- A valid driver’s license required.
- A cell phone is recommended.
Benefits
Chippewa County offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes the following:
- Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS – ETF)– Employees (GME) will begin contributing 7.25% (2027) immediately to the state pension program through WRS. The County will match the employee contribution, 7.25% for a total of 14.50%. This percentage may change each year based on state requirements.
- WPPA (Protective with Social Security) will begin contributing 7.25% (2027) immediately to the state pension program through WRS. The County will contribute 14.35% for a total of 21.60%. This percentage may change each year based on state requirements.
- Health Insurance – The County’s Health Plan’s Third Party Administrator (TPA) is AmeriBen. The network is Anthem BluePreferred network including most medical providers in the Chippewa Valley. The plan has a $3,000 – Individual and $6,000 – Family deductible with an employer funded, Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). There are four (4) Tier options for coverage: Employee only, $30 per month, Employee + Child(ren), $124 per month, Employee + Spouse, $150 per month, and Family, $212 per month.
- Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) – The County contributes money on the employee’s behalf and can be used for qualified Medical, Dental, or Vision expenses. All employees and dependents enrolled on the Health Insurance Plan qualify. A total of $500 per person enrolled on the plan, up to a max of 4 - $2,000 annually.
- Near-Site Clinic – All employees and dependents enrolled on the Health Insurance Plan have access to services at ReforMedicine. Services with ReforMedicine are FREE!
- Musculoskeletal Partner - Physical Therapy – All employees and dependents enrolled on the Health Insurance Plan have access to services at Doctors of Physical Therapy. Services with Doctors of Physical Therapy are FREE!
- Care Navigation – All employees and dependents enrolled on the Health Insurance Plan have the ability to utilize SorlarteHealth – Amplify Network. Amplify is a Tier 1 In-Network practitioners available for Chippewa County members to use. All Amplify providers are independent and are not within a large health system. The use of any Amplify provider will be $0 out-of-pocket expense! No deductible, no co-pay, and no co-insurance!
- Additional Insurance Plans Offered: Dental, Vision, Life, Accident, and Critical Illness, Short-Term (GME only) and Long-Term Disability Insurance; Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts.
- PTO – accrual equal to 7.09 hours of PTO per pay period (26 pay periods in a year). An employees total accrued PTO may not exceed four hundred eighty (480) hours. PTO hours roll over year to year.
- Holidays – 10 paid holidays per year.
For additional benefit details and premiums, please refer to the Chippewa County website and click on Government, Human Resources, and on the left-hand side Employee Benefits. Or click HERE to go to the page directly! A GREAT CAREER BEGINS WITH CHIPPEWA COUNTY!