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