Substance Use Disorder Professional

Health Care Apprenticeship Consortium

Registered 2021

Washington (SAA)

Documents

Individual state requirements may vary. Please contact your local apprenticeship office to ensure this version is suitable to your state’s requirements.

Work Process Schedule

Work Process Content

On the Job Training

Anonymous

OJT hours

Understanding Addiction

250

Understands a variety of models and theories of addiction and other problems related to substance use.
Recognizes the social, political, economic, and cultural context within which addiction and substance abuse exist.
Describes the behavioral, psychological, physical health, and social effects of psychoactive substances on the person using and significant others.
Recognizes the potential for substance use disorders to mimic a variety of medical and mental health conditions.
Recognizes the potential for medical and mental health conditions to coexist with addiction and substance abuse.

Treatment Knowledge

250

Describes the philosophies, practices, policies, and outcomes of the most generally accepted and scientifically supported models of treatment.
Recognizes the importance of family, social networks, and community systems in the treatment and recovery process.
Understands the importance of research and outcome data and their application in clinical practice.
Understands the value of an interdisciplinary approach to addiction treatment.

Application to Practice

250

Understands the established diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders.
Describes treatment modalities and placement criteria within the continuum of care.
Describes a variety of helping strategies for reducing the negative effects of substance use.
Tailors helping strategies and treatment modalities to the client’s stage of dependence, change, or recovery.
Provides treatment services appropriate to the personal and cultural identity and language of the client.
Adapts practice to the range of treatment settings and modalities.
Be familiar with medical and pharmacological resources in the treatment of substance use disorders.
Understands the variety of insurance and health maintenance options available.
Recognizes that crisis may indicate an underlying substance use disorder.
Understands the need for and use of methods for measuring treatment outcome.

Professional Readiness

250

Understands diverse cultures, and incorporates the relevant needs of culturally diverse groups into clinical practice.
Understands the importance of self-awareness in one’s personal, professional, and cultural life.
Understands the addiction professional’s obligations to adhere to ethical and behavioral standards of conduct.
Understands the importance of ongoing supervision and continuing education.
Understands the obligation of the addiction professional to participate in prevention and treatment activities.
Understands and applies setting-specific policies and procedures for handling crisis or dangerous situations.

Clinical Evaluation (Screening)

250

Establishes rapport, including management of a crisis situation.
Gathers data systematically from the client and other available collateral sources.
Screens for psychoactive substance toxicity, intoxication, and withdrawal symptoms.
Assists the client in identifying the effect of substance use on his or her current life problems.
Determines the client’s readiness for treatment and change.
Reviews the treatment options that are appropriate for the client’s needs.
Applies accepted criteria for diagnosis of substance use disorders.
Constructs with the client an initial action plan.
Takes specific steps to initiate an admission or referral.

Clinical Evaluation (Assessment)

250

Selects and uses a comprehensive assessment process.
Analyzes and interprets the data to determine treatment recommendations.
Seeks appropriate supervision and consultation.
Documents assessment findings and treatment recommendations.

Treatment Planning

200

Uses relevant assessment information to guide the treatment planning process.
Explains assessment findings to the client.
Provides the client with clarification and additional information as needed.
Examines treatment options in collaboration with the client.
Prioritizes the client’s needs.
Formulates mutually agreed-on and measurable treatment goals.
Identifies appropriate strategies for each treatment goal.
Coordinates treatment activities and community resources.
Develops with the client a mutually acceptable treatment plan.
Informs the client of confidentiality rights.
Reassesses the treatment plan at regular intervals.

Referral

100

Establishes and maintains relationships with civic groups, agencies, and other professionals.
Continuously assesses and evaluates referral resources.
Differentiates between situations for self-referral and counselor referral.
Arranges referrals to other professionals.
Explains the necessity for and process of referral.
Exchanges relevant information with the agency or professional.
Evaluates the outcome of the referral.

Service Coordination - Implementing the Treatment Plan

100

Initiates collaboration with the referral source.
Obtains, reviews, and interprets all relevant screening, assessment, and initial treatment planning information.
Confirms the client’s eligibility for admission.
Completes necessary administrative procedures for admission.
Establishes accurate treatment and recovery expectations.
Coordinates all treatment activities.

Service Coordination - Consulting

100

Summarizes the client’s personal and cultural background.
Understands the terminology, procedures, and roles of other disciplines.
Contributes as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team.
Applies confidentiality rules and regulations appropriately.
Demonstrates respect and nonjudgmental attitudes toward clients.

Service Coordination: Continuing Assessment & Treatment Planning

100

Maintains ongoing contact with the client.
Understands and recognizes stages of change.
Assesses treatment and recovery progress.
Describes and documents the treatment process.
Uses accepted treatment outcome measures.
Conducts continuing care, relapse prevention, and discharge planning.
Documents service coordination activities.

Counseling - Individual Counseling

250

Establishes a helping relationship with the client.
Facilitates the client’s engagement in the treatment process.
Works with the client to establish realistic, achievable goals.
Promotes client knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
Encourages and reinforces client actions.
Works appropriately with the client to recognize and discourage all behaviors inconsistent with progress.
Recognizes how, when, and why to involve the client’s significant others.
Promotes client knowledge, skills, and attitudes consistent with health maintenance.
Facilitates the development of basic and life skills.
Adapts counseling strategies to the individual characteristics of the client.
Makes constructive therapeutic responses.
Applies crisis prevention and management skills.
Facilitates the client’s identification, selection, and practice of strategies.

Counseling - Group Counseling

250

Describes, selects, and appropriately uses strategies for group counseling.
Carries out the actions necessary to form a group.
Facilitates the entry of new members and the transition of exiting members.
Facilitates group growth within the established ground rules.
Understands the concepts of process and content.
Describes and summarizes the client’s behavior within the group.

Counseling - Counseling Families, Couples, and Significant Others

150

Understands the characteristics and dynamics of families affected by substance use.
Be familiar with and appropriately use models of diagnosis and intervention.
Facilitates the engagement of selected members of the family in the treatment process.
Assists families in understanding the interaction between the family system and substance use behaviors.
Assists families in adopting strategies that sustain recovery.

Client, Family, and Community Education

150

Provides culturally relevant education programs.
Describes factors that increase the likelihood for an individual to be at risk for substance use disorders.
Sensitizes others to issues of cultural identity.
Describes warning signs, symptoms, and the course of substance use disorders.
Describes how substance use disorders affect families.
Describes the continuum of care and resources available.
Describes principles and philosophy of prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Understands and describes the health and behavior problems related to substance use.
Teaches life skills, including stress management and communication.

Documentation

200

Demonstrates knowledge of accepted principles of client record management.
Protects client rights to privacy and confidentiality.
Prepares accurate and concise screening, intake, and assessment reports.
Records treatment and continuing care plans.
Records progress of client in relation to treatment goals.
Prepares accurate and concise discharge summaries.
Documents treatment outcome.

Professional and Ethical Responsibilities

180

Adheres to established professional codes of ethics.
Adheres to Federal and State laws regarding treatment.
Interprets and applies information from current counseling literature.
Recognizes the importance of individual differences.
Uses a range of supervisory options.
Conducts self-evaluations of professional performance.
Obtains appropriate continuing professional education.
Participates in ongoing supervision and consultation.
Develops and uses strategies to maintain one’s physical and mental health.

Communication

100

Engages in active and reflective listening.
Uses 'person centered/person first' language.
Speaks clearly and slowly enough to be understood.

Assessment

Assesses client's preferred method of communication.

Medication Management

Reviews the list of the client's medications.
Coaches the client on strategies for taking medications.
Coaches the family on strategies for supporting the client.
Assists the client in monitoring and reporting medication effects.

Counseling

Helps the client define the problem.

Crisis Management

100

Assists in implementing the response to a crisis.
Communicates with the family about the crisis.
Assists with notifications and investigations of reportable events.
Assists the client and family in obtaining services related to the crisis.
Participates in debriefing meetings.

Cultural Competency and Individualized care

250

Is aware of and able to manage their own stereotypes and biases.
Is aware of their privileged identities.
Leading with race as a foundation.
Utilizes a strength-based model.
Takes risks to engage clients in conversations about their experiences.
Takes risks to engage clients in dynamics of differences.
Utilizes appropriate culturally relevant resources.
Understands and applies knowledge of the systemic roots of addiction.
Understands and applies knowledge of the compounding effects of having more than one identity.
Has knowledge of and works to mitigate the mental health and cultural stigma.
Effectively integrates culturally responsive practices.
Engages client to increase understanding of how the person sees the world.
Understands the compounding impact of incarceration, poverty, and/or other systems involvement.
Is flexible in care, communication, and approach.
Demonstrates awareness of how the power differential impacts the helping relationships.
Understands the complexity of dual relationships.
Routinely considers and discusses cultural responsiveness.
Consults with elders or traditional healers in the community when appropriate.