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NewsletterNovember - 2005 | |
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Access to Recovery Grant | |
Access to Recovery Grant Awarded to NJIn 2004, the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Addiction Services (DAS) was awarded one of fifteen Access to Recovery (ATR) grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). New Jersey’s ATR grant, known as the New Jersey Access Initiative (NJAI), is a voucher program designed to “enhance” traditional addictions treatment to those addicted to opiates. Under the grant, New Jersey will receive $12.2 million dollars over three years to serve 4,710 New Jersey residents.New Jersey residents addicted to opiates should call the Addictions hotline at 1-800-238-2333 to be screened for eligibility. The NJAI funds assessments, residential detox on a limited basis and Recovery Mentor Associate (RMA) services. RMAs complement treatment by providing support, information, companionship and general assistance to NJAI clients. In order to work as a RMA for a NJAI network provider, candidates must submit a training application to DAS, and if approved, complete 48 hours of training under the NJAI. DAS, in conjunction with the NJAI Administrative Lead Agency, the Center for Family Services provides this training free of charge to RMA candidates accepted into the program. After completing the 48 hours of training, RMAs apply for their certification through the Addiction Professionals Certification Board. This RMA credential is renewable every 2 years from the date of issuance. In September, the first group of RMAs submitted applications to receive their RMA certification. A ceremony recognizing this group will be held at the end of October in Princeton. DHS Commissioner James M. Davy and members of the press will be in attendance to honor this group’s special achievement. With Workforce development in mind, DAS collaborated with the Associated Treatment Providers (ATP) and the Addiction Professionals Certification Board and developed the Recovery Mentor Certification. Recovery Mentors interested in becoming addictions counselors have already completed 24 hours towards their Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CADC) training. The hours they work under a licensed professional as a Recovery Mentor will count towards the 3,000 hours needed to fulfill the intern hour requirements of the CADC certification. RMAs are encouraged to continue with the education requirements of the CADC while working as Recovery Mentors.
Those interested in becoming a RMA must meet the following basic qualifications: high school diploma or GED, valid driver’s license, minimum of two years of recovery involvement and availability for weekend and evening hours. If the candidate is in recovery, he or she must have no less than two years of sobriety prior to their engagement as a RMA. For more information regarding the NJAI program, please send e-mail to
Ericka.Grimes@dhs.state.nj.us or
Helen.Staton@dhs.state.nj.us
Important Reminder!All CADC's and LCADC's will have until July 31, 2008 to complete the special legal course in the New Jersey statute and regulations governing the practice of alcohol and drug counselors. This Renewal course is required for all CADC's and LCADC's, but not to be confused with C501 or C502, which are required for initial certification/license. Watch our front page (www.certbd.com) for future dates and locations for this course.
Questions for DAS or the Cert BoardPlease email questions for DAS (Division Addiction Services) or the Cert Board itself, to web@certbd.com and we will print the answers in our next issue, and possible inclusion into the Q & A section. |
Submit Your Profile!It took some time and great effort (mostly by our internet provider/partner: Bower Web Solutions), but The Certification Board, Inc., website now allows you, the counselor, the opportunity to post your resume. Under the Job Openings menu tab, you can find the "Submit Your Profile (counselors)" button, when clicked on, will take you to a form that you can fill-out and then submit your resume. Your identification information will be protected - the Cert Board will act as an intermediary to protect your confidentiality. After being reviewed and approved by our Executive Director, your profile will be posted and you will receive a unique identifier, keeping your personal information secret.Since anyone can view these profiles, if a potential employer would like to contact you, they must submit a request, that will be sent to The Certification Board, Inc., and then forwarded to you. The information you will receive will contain the potential employer's name and email address. Having this you can respond or ignore their interest, the choice is yours.
Instructor Requirements Changed
Starting January 1, 2006, new instructors who teach the initial LCADC, CADC and CDA, will be required to have:
Help Others in RecoveryFriends of Addiction Recovery-New Jersey is seeking members of the recovery community who would like to help others in recovery by sharing their knowledge, skills and experience. For more than two years now, Friends of Addiction Recovery-New Jersey has been offering recovery support learning circles: at two correctional facilities, three halfway homes for women in recovery, and two sober housing organizations. Some are also held in the community. Friends is seeking individuals to present material and information in our learning circles, which support and enhance the recovery experience of the circle participants. The learning circles through which participants gain and exchange knowledge and awareness, learn skills and new information, while supporting and enhancing their recovery in a peer-to-peer setting, have been very well-received by participants and presenters alike. Everyone benefits from this much needed service. We ask those who would like to help with this to contact Friends of Addiction Recovery-New Jersey at 888/872-3979 and ask for Yury Tarnavskyj x110 or Jeanette Grimes x109 or email us at FOAR@ncadddnj.org. We are not asking for large chunks of time. A couple of hours a few times a year are what we are asking of people. Some may wish to put forth more, and that’s OK too. Currently, the circles are being offered in Monmouth, Ocean, Mercer, Burlington, Somerset and Sussex counties. |