10 11
IMPACT GEORGIA MAGAZINE AUGUST 2019
The Addiction Certification Preparation Program (ACPP) was created to meet the increasing need of offenders. Previously, the Addiction Certification Preparation Program was outsourced to outside agencies, but is now being facilitated by the GDC Risk Reduction Services Substance Abuse Unit. This training program provides 300 education hours required by state certification boards as partial fulfillment toward certification. In addition to 300 education hours, participants are required to obtain 200 hours of clinical supervision and at least 4,000 hours of work experience. Upon completion of the requirements, graduates must successfully pass a 150-question exam. When graduates pass the exam, they become Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC-II), a certification internationally recognized by 76 states and countries through the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium.
Over the course of five years, the Substance Abuse Unit has trained 93 students, and another 17 students began the class in July 2019. With over half the incarcerated population being assessed as moderate to high-risk need for substance abuse, it is of great importance to continue to assist counselors to become certified and qualified to provide addiction treatment.
The Substance Abuse Unit is looking for appropriate candidates for the program. Appropriate candidates must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in a helping profession and must have at least one year of experience providing services to a substance abusing population. Anyone interested in ACPP should contact the Substance Abuse Unit ([email protected]) for more information and for an application.
Addiction Certification Preparation Program (ACPP)
Contributed by Melissa King-Jones | [email protected]
Photo by Kasandra Ortizs | [email protected]