Bachelor degree in a mental health discipline; certification of substance abuse (SA) case management training by Alabama Department of Mental Health (DMH);
Knowledge in substance abuse and mental illness specialties, outlined below, to be obtained within six (6) months of employment:
- Knowledge of the nature of addiction and psychiatric disorders
- Knowledge of gender specific issues relative to addiction
- Knowledge of substance abuse treatment principles
- Knowledge of the 12-step support groups such as AA, NA, CA, and other self-help groups for co-occurring disordered adults
- Knowledge of criminogenic needs, definition and risk factors
- Understand the dynamics of co-dependency of addicted individuals, denial, manipulation and other typical behaviors of these consumers
- Understand the signs and symptoms of active mental illness and has the information and skills to address crisis intervention or intervention needs
- Understand the behavioral, psychological, physical health, and social effects of psychoactive drugs, including alcohol and tobacco, on the consumer and significant others
- Knowledge of helping strategies for reducing the negative effects of substance abuse dependency and how to tailor strategies and treatment modalities to the consumers’ stages of dependency, change or recovery
- Knowledge of medical and pharmaceutical resources in the treatment of addictive and mental illness diseases
- Knowledge of cultural diversity
- Knowledge of the risk for illnesses among IV drug users such as HIV/AIDS and T.B.
- Knowledge of the criminal justice system including court hearings, judges, court referral officers, probation officers, and jail diversion
- Knowledge of HIV/AIDS education, counseling and testing
- Knowledge of behavioral management and crisis intervention