Degree: Associate in Science
HEGIS Code: 5216
Curriculum Code: 0541
Campus Location: City-Evening Program
Health Sciences Division
Pre-Admission Recommendations: HS or HSE (High School Equivalency) Diploma
Career Opportunities/Further Education: Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Centers, Mental Health and Human Services Agencies
Program Description
Alcohol abuse and the abuse of other drugs is increasing in this nation. More demographic groups, including women, the elderly, adolescents and persons with other concurrent mental health disorders are in need of counseling and treatment to address these significant health issues. Increasing demands are being placed on alcoholism/substance abuse counselors to work with more dysfunctional clients in a health care industry that is faced with growing financial constraints. The Mental Health Assistant - Alcohol Counseling Program is designed to prepare students for careers as alcoholism/substance abuse counselors, as well as provide additional training for those individuals already employed in the field. This course of study can be on a part-time evening or full-time day and evening sequence.
While in this degree program, the student will learn diagnostic, evaluation, individual, group, intervention and family counseling techniques. Students will serve internships with credentialed and experienced professionals at various public and private inpatient and outpatient facilities in Western New York. The program will provide the student with techniques and strategies for determining the best available treatment for the chemical abuser, their family and others affected by this destructive behaviors associated with alcohol/substance abuse.
The Mental Health Assistant - Alcohol Counseling Program will fulfill all the education/training clock hour requirements for the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Credential in Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC). Completion of the two internship courses as part of the curriculum would be partial fulfillment toward the one year allowance for non-paid experience toward credentialing. Additionally, completion of the degree provides 1,000 hours of experience towards the CASAC Credentialing Examination requirement.
Graduates of the program are qualified for entry-level substance abuse counseling positions and related duties in detoxification, halfway house, residential and outpatient care facilities.
Graduates will have been introduced to total quality management and continuous quality improvement concepts, principles and practices as they are applied to addictions treatment, inpatient and outpatient care and case management protocols.
Department Notes
- Students must purchase malpractice insurance for clinical internship.
- OASAS credentialing requirements for CASAC requires 350 education/training clock hours in four categories of course work, including: knowledge of alcoholism and substance abuse (85 hours minimum); alcoholism and substance abuse counseling (150 hours minimum); assessment, clinical evaluation, treatment planning, case management and patient/community education (70 hours minimum); and professional and ethical responsibilities in documentation (45 hours minimum).
- Education and Training Provider-certified by the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.
In the area of work experience, applicants will be required to document three years of appropriate full-time work experience in an approved work setting. Such experience may include up to one year of voluntary (non-paid) work experience or clinical internship. Applicants with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the human service field from an accredited college or institute may substitute their degree for one year of work experience (for bachelors) or two years of work experience (for master’s degree).
Academic courses in this degree will fulfill all CASAC education/training clock hour requirements, and partial fulfillment toward the one-year allowance for non-paid experience toward credentialing.
Program Competencies
Upon graduation with an Associate in Science degree in Mental Health Assistant-Alcohol Counseling, the graduate will be able to:
- understand the disease concept of chemical dependency;
- apply this understanding to working with alcoholics, addicted individuals, families and significant others;
- understand the chemical dependency treatment systems available, referral practices and linkages;
- understand secondary psychopathology as it relates to chemical abuse/dependence, addiction and recovery;
- understand the pharmacology of drugs, drug interactions and resulting addictive patterns;
- develop and apply basic human relations counseling skills;
- apply standardized diagnostic, assessment and treatment planning skills and techniques;
- perform basic individual and group counseling skills;
- write and implement effective recovery treatment plans;
- write effective and appropriate clinical documentation;
- perform clinical interventions;
- understand the roles and identity of being a professional alcoholism/substance abuse counselor;
- understand and perform according to guidelines of confidentiality and professional ethical behavior;
- knowledge of how to find and use addictions literature for clinical practice; and
- knowledge of 12-step and other self-help support groups and activities.
SUNY Transfer Path Requirement
Students matriculating in this program are required to fulfill the SUNY Transfer Path Requirement that most closely aligns with the program. Speak to your advisor for details.
Curriculum
Total Degree Credits: 60.0
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