| Alcohol & Drug Abuse Certification Board of
Georgia
June 2010 - Vol 1, Issue
3
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Visit our website
2010 Officers &
Execiutive Board
Memebers
Jane
Furtner
President
Administrator
Lizz
Toledo
Vice
President
Ethics Committee
Chair
Bruce
Obrentz
Ann
Thompson
Certification
Committee Chair
Diana Lynn
Pruitt
Public Relations
Committee Chair
Donna
Johnson
Criminal Justice
Committee Chair
Jennifer
Brown
Newsletter
Editor | |
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Welcome to our
opt-in
e-newsletter. Please pass it on
to colleagues with a shared interest in
public
protection through the establishment of quality,
competency-based certification
programs for
professionals engaged in the prevention
and treatment
of addictions and related problems.
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IC&RC News: May
24, 2010
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Visions:
Collaboration, Diversity, Celebration and
Success!
Driving forces - such as increased global shifts
economically, public consciousness and diverse values -
are causing rapid change among addiction, prevention and
related professional organizations. One of my many goals
has been to be as inclusive, transparent and as
participatory as possible to enhance the great work that
is being done in our field. The Executive Committee has
dedicated many hours contemplating how IC&RC can
play a larger role at the national and international
levels, and we have developed a solution that I am
excited to present to you.
I have asked the Executive Committee to adopt
and implement a formal proposal for an all encompassing
Advisory Board. The purpose of the Advisory Board will
be to provide IC&RC with professional advice and
guidance on local, regional, national, and international
issues specific to the profession's needs.
In my vision, the Advisory Board's focus, in
general, will be to provide IC&RC with information
regarding trends, cultural concerns, and current
research, as well as assist with information
dissemination, product development, and advocacy to meet
the needs of our diverse communities. In addition,
the objectives of the Advisory Board include, but are
not limited to the following:
- Provide information and resources for the
creation, operation, expansion and collaboration in
the profession and service delivery for the field.
- Facilitate information-sharing and networking
opportunities for our international communities with a
greater focus on multicultural needs.
- Encourage information and research sharing
among all jurisdictions.
- Provide information to expand enhanced
services and products (globally) that are realistic,
practical and culturally competent for each
jurisdiction.
- Provide greater visibility and credibility for
our profession.
- Create an annual plan of activities, including
events, concerns, cutting-edge materials and products,
to further enhance the services that are offered to
consumers.
We aim for the Advisory Board to be composed of
organizations, governmental agencies, professional
entities, and individuals - which will be pivotal in the
success of moving our profession into the age of
collaboration.
Because the Advisory Board is being created to
unify our profession, while celebrating diversity and
providing leadership throughout the world, it is clear
that community involvement is of utmost importance for
the success of this endeavor. I would like to invite you
to provide input and feedback. Please email your
thoughts or ideas to rhonda@icrcaoda.org.
In the spirit of
service,
Rhonda Messamore, President | | |
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|
New Certifications |
Congratulations
To those who earned
certifications
May - June
2010
By
Reciprocity:
Michael T.
Moses, CADC
Wendy Webster,
CADC
Deborah E.
Massey, CADC
Gwendolyn Gray,
CADC
Debra Brown,
CADC |
Article
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Resolving the
"Alphabet-Soup" Problem
When people seek services, the first question they ask is
"What professional certifications or license does the
professional hold?" In most professions, the answers are
simple and enlightening. Most people around the world can
identify and define the acronym "MD." Throughout the US, the
"SW" for social workers is standardized, even if it is couched
in other letters. IC&RC certificants haven't benefited
from the same "name" recognition - until now.
In October 2009, the IC&RC Board of Directors
voted to standardize the use of names and acronyms by as many
member boards as possible. This means that boards -
unless prohibited by law, statute or regulations - should
transition to using the common names and acronyms in their
credentials by January 1, 2016.
In our field, we have asked consumers to make sense of
a perplexing myriad of acronyms: CAC, CASAC, CADP, CAP, LCDC, BCCR. It's like expecting them to make words
out of alphabet soup.
Uniformity offers the simplest way to provide a sense
of unity within an increasingly international profession.
Since IC&RC is the largest addiction-related organization
in the world, with 73 organizations representing more than
40,000 certified professionals nationally and internationally,
it makes sense that we lead by example.
The members of IC&RC agreed to change the
following acronyms:
- AODA will become ADC (Alcohol and Drug Counselor)
- AAODA will become AADC (Advanced Alcohol and Drug
Counselor)
- CPS will become PS (Prevention Specialist)
- CCS will become CS (Clinical Supervisor)
IC&RC has already begun the process of changing
all references to these acronyms in its by-laws, policy and
procedures, corporate documents, website, and all other
materials, and member boards should endeavor do the same.
IC&RC will be providing support and materials throughout
this process.
Each board is welcome to add to the acronym for their
specific purposes, such as L for Licensed or C for Certified,
but the common acronym needs to be the "kernel" of the
credential. I could be a prefix used to indicate that
the professional has met the requirements to become
credentialed at the international level.
"The role of professional credentials has become
increasingly important," states Rhonda Messamore, President of
IC&RC. "It is my opinion that professional credentials are
invaluable as a means of communicating to the general public
and others that one is a competent, qualified
person."
"The credential is the starting point and in a
nutshell tells others the individual has met the required
education, training and examination requirements and
ultimately, has proven his/her competency. Clearly, the
individual is looking to measure the professional's competency
and qualifications. It is not that credentials make one
infallible and clearly credentials do not give special powers;
but rather, credentials are a starting point or benchmark that
consumers may identify the professional who is knowledgeable
and competent in their focus of practice."
This transition to a standardized set of credential
acronyms attests to IC&RC's unity,
uniformity
and leadership. To
learn more about the standards of certification or licensure
in your state, please visit our member boards'
websites. You will find a listing at http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103490069066&s=531&e=001OVrCsIcXoVm6EmBnZ4FFU3cvNIv5Dukmx3jt2LkTfQ_Ys_0uqu11rojkph6Do1Y5wgxNuaWOq0DrWmNefqwl9Ygo-Ll6b0MiqVCv7yzBh8A3OaR79obISw==. |
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Testing Information |
Written Exam Dates
2010:
September 10,
2010 &
December 10, 2010
(10:30 a.m. - 2:00
p.m.)
Testing location sponsored by:
Mercer Atlanta
Administration
& Conference Center
2930 Flowers Rd. S.,
Atlanta, GA 30341, Rm 245
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Article
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The Office of National Drug
Control Policy released their National Drug Control Strategy
this month, announcing the goals and objectives of the Obama
administration. Emphasizing prevention, treatment, and
community settings, the 127-page document includes several
points that could have an impact on substance abuse
professionals.
If there is one overarching theme
to the strategy, it is that substance abuse treatment and
prevention need to be absorbed into "mainstream" health
care. With the passage of health care reform and the
Wellstone-Domenici Parity Act, the ONDCP sees an opportunity
for substance abuse to be elevated to the status of other
chronic diseases in the eyes of the health care system and the
public
Chapter three is the section of
the report that addresses the integration of substance abuse
treatment into mainstream health care. The logic is that
in an integrated system, care for addiction is co-located with
other important services, such as mental health care and
disease management. It also grants access to other
health professionals, such as nurses and physicians.
This integration can be achieved through expanding addiction
services in community health centers. This section
of the report also calls for expanded substance abuse
treatment within the Indian Health Service. The
strategy also supports the development of new medications for
the treatment of addiction.
Criminal justice also plays a role
in the strategy. There is a call to expand re-entry
support services through the Second Chance Act. Also,
there is a need to improve treatment for those with needs in
the juvenile justice system. Specifically, there is a
need for culturally competent screening and treatment
strategies.
Chapter seven promotes the use of
science to advance our understanding of addiction, treatment,
and recovery. Here, IC&RC is ahead of the curve, as
we are well into discussions with NIDA in an effort to better
disseminate science into practice amongst our
professionals. We have met with high-ranking officials
at NIDA on multiple occasions and hope to soon involve NIDA
scientists and staff in the promotion of IC&RC
materials.
In summary, the national strategy
will present both opportunities and challenges to IC&RC
members and certificants. Thanks to our recent advocacy
efforts, as well as our fundamental commitment to
evidence-based practices, we are well-positioned to make the
most of this new approach.
The entire report can be found at
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103490069066&s=531&e=001OVrCsIcXoVkG7rQWeYD8_sMem8nnboZkMCSCciMfu3xEU7hJD52BcyuIESN5Ug69B2dN2Dw3_XcOEQWyD-NpvVExyoYOrgf6t-AgblYBahItkbV0WYZ7ND8vs9RWF3C-. |
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ADACBGA
is a proud member of IC&RC, which protects the public
by establishing standards and facilitating reciprocity for the
credentialing of addiction-related professionals. The
largest organization of its kind, IC&RC represents more
than 40,000 professionals
worldwide. | |
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