NOW AVAILABLE C.A.S.A.C.
DAY & EVENING PROGRAMS
(Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor)
 

This 11 month program includes the full 350 hours required by OASAS to register for the NYS C.A.S.A.C. credential.
*Limited enrollment available for both Day and Evening Program,  please call our administration office for an application or call 718-847-9233 for further information.

Partial financial scholarships available for those who qualify.
Full tuition can be provided by VESID for those who qualify.
(Criteria for VESID eligibility: Vocational impairment, functional limitations, physical, mental, emotional or learning disability that interferes  with your ability to work or require VESID services).

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Why Consider Acquiring a C.A.S.A.C.

1. You have a strong commitment to helping addicted individuals and their families.
2. You understand the complexity of alcoholism and substance abuse and that effective treatment requires  addiction professionals to deliver services that require a broader knowledge and skill base.  
3. You are sensitive to the relationship between problems of crime, violence, public health, unhealthy family functioning and its connection to substance abuse.

Why Commit to Learning at O. T.I. ?

As a division of Outreach Project, OTI has an outstanding reputation in training addiction professionals. (A listing of Outreach Project's Clinical Services is included in this packet).

•  An innovative and progressive curricula.

• Sensitivity in guiding and assessing the students' professional and personal development needs.

• A warm caring and committed faculty made up of addiction professionals currently working in the chemical dependency field

• As a division of a non-profit corporation, OTI is committed to affordable education, reflected in our price structure.

OTI's C.A.S.A.C. Diploma Program

Objectives

1. To provide the education and course work necessary to qualify for the   New York State Office Of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) C.A.S.A.C. credential exam.

2. To meet the specific needs of all our students; whether beginning their careers, or experienced practitioners seeking to explore the special discipline of working with substance abusers.

3. To provide students with a strong theoretical foundation, practical counseling skills and first hand experience in the field 

4. To assist eligible students - seeking opportunities to acquire supervised internship positions within an OASAS approved treatment unit of Outreach Project.

Office Of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Treatment

N.Y. S.'s Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services created the C.A.S.A.C. designation in recognition of the need to set high standards for clinical practice. Also, to acknowledge and promote professional competence within the field of alcoholism and substance abuse counseling.

This regulatory agency provides regular N.Y.S. exams (Written & Oral) in order to professionally credential alcohol & substance abuse counselors. The upcoming exam schedule is included in this packet.

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OASAS C.A.S.A.C. Requirements You Should Know:

1) Age: minimum of 18 years of age.
2) High School Diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
3) Education and training consisting of a minimum of 350 clock hours in the field of alcoholism and substance abuse treatment. Minimum clock hour requirements are:

• 85 clock hours related to Knowledge of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. (OTI's Modules 1 & 2)

• 150 clock hours related to Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counseling. (OTI's Modules 3, 4, 5, & 6)

• 70 clock hours related to Assessment; Clinical Evaluation: Treatment Planning; Case Management; and Parent Family and Community Ethical Responsibilities, and Documentation. (OTI's Modules 7&8)

•  45 clock hours related to Professional and Ethical Responsibilities, and Documentation (OTI's Module 9)

4) All education and training must have been completed within ten years of application.  At OASAS's discretion, course work successfully completed more than 10 years prior to submission of application as part of an accredited degree program may be accepted, providing the degree was completed within the required period.

5) Training obtained through an accredited college or university, a government agency, professional organization, training institute, or in service training program approved by OASAS. (Outreach Training Institute is an approved N.Y. S. training provider, #ED0049).

6) Supervised Practical Training: The applicant must have had a minimum of 300 hours of supervised practical training in an approved work setting. Each of the twelve areas of professional expertise outlined previously must be performed.

7) Work Experience*

• Minimum of three years(*6,000 hours) of supervised full time equivalent experience (paid) in an approved work setting. (*Unless you possess a Bachelor's or Master's degree).

• Twelve months of voluntary or other non-paid work experience may be accepted (up to 1,000 hours), providing it-involved appropriately supervised direct patient services in an approved work setting and occurred within 5 years of the submission of an application.

• Work experience must satisfy all of the minimum requirements of  OASAS.

• Supervision must have included, at a minimum, weekly, on-site, and documented clinical supervision by a Qualified Health Professional.

• A Bachelor's Degree in a Human Services Field, from an accredited college or institution, may be substituted for up to one year of work experience.

•  A Masters (or higher) Degree in a Human Services Field from an accredited college or institution, may be substituted for-up to two years of work experience.

8) Evaluation three evaluations written by qualified persons with a minimum of six months of direct knowledge of the applicant's performance.

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New York State's C.A.S.A C. Credential Requirements:
(all acquired through OTI'S Diploma Program)

A C..A.S.A.C. must demonstrate an acceptable level of knowledge and skills related to alcoholism and substance abuse counseling including:

• Knowledge of a variety of models and theories of addiction and other chemical abuse problems. .

• Knowledge of the social, political, economic and cultural context within which chemical abuse exists.

• Knowledge of the behavioral, psychological, physical health, and social affects of chemical abuse.

• Skills in recognizing the potential for chemical abuse or dependence disorders which mimic-a variety of medical and psychological disorders.

• Knowledge of the philosophies, practices, policies and outcomes of the most generally accepted models of treatment, recovery, relapse prevention and continuing care.

• Knowledge of the importance of family, social networks and community systems in the treatment and recovery process. Understanding the value of an interdisciplinary approach to chemical abuse.

• Skill in using the established diagnostic criteria for chemical abuse and dependence, and understanding the variety of treatment options and placement criteria within the continuum of care.

• Ability to utilize various counseling strategies and develop treatment plans. 

• Knowledge of the medical and pharmaceutical resources in treatment.

• Ability to incorporate the special needs of diverse racial and ethnic cultures and special populations into clinical practice.

• Understanding the obligation of the C..A.S.A.C to engage in prevention techniques.

• Knowledge of the obligations of a C..A.S.A.C. to adhere to generally accepted ethical and behavioral standards of conduct.

• Proficiency in English including the ability to speak, and write effectively.

C.A.S.A.C.'s must demonstrate knowledge and the ability to engage in a range of professional techniques and activities. These are all provided through OTI's Diploma Program, including:

•  Screening

• Intake

• Orientation

• Assessment, Evaluation & Intervention

• Referral Procedures

• Treatment Planning

• Individual/Group Counseling

• Crisis Intervention

• Patient Education

• Case Management

•  Reporting/Record Keeping

• Coordination/Consultation with Other Professionals.

New York State C.A.S.A.C. Examinations

• Written and oral examinations; only applicants who have successfully completed the written examination will be admitted to the oral examination.

• The written examination consists of multiple choice questions to test factual knowledge and its application relating to requisite competence areas, professional activities, and ethical principles.

• The oral examination uses the Case Presentation Method, allowing candidate demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills and professional expertise identified.

The C.A.S.A.C. exam will be given two times a year. OASAS information phone #: 1-800-482-9564.

CREDENTIALING RECIPROCITY

As a member of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse, Inc. (ICRC/AODA), OASAS offers immediate benefits for credentialed counselors in New York in that they will be eligible for reciprocity in:

States not covered by reciprocity are:

OTI'S DIPLOMA PROGRAM OVERVIEW

• Entrance to the program can occur at the beginning of any module.

• Length of Program: Nine course modules taught over 11 consecutive months. (Course modules can be taken separately, upon administrative approval).

•  350 hours of instruction delivered at Queens , Brentwood Long Island , and Greenpoint BrooklynTraining sites.

Limited Outreach internship positions available (separate application after completion of four course modules).

How to become an eligible OTI student:

1. Submit a completed Diploma Program application with appropriate $25 processing fee.
2. Once deemed eligible, attend a private interview.
3. Make a financial commitment. (Limited financial aid/scholarships are available for those who qualify.)

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For information on exam schedule call number below:

Oral Exams T.B.A. BY OASAS. The C.A.S.A.C. exam will be given two times a year. OASAS information phone #: 1- 800 - 482- 9564, PRESS option #4.
http://www.oasas.state.ny.us/

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The Outreach Project Mission :
"To Empower Individuals, Families and Communities to Make Choices
which Enable Them to Experience a Responsible Life Free from Alcohol

Outreach Project, a non-profit corporation, was founded in 1980 to provide assistance to individuals who were seeking help for their problems with substance abuse. As a provider of assessment and referral services, Outreach found many gaps in treatment services within this population and responded by designing programs to meet the various needs of those seeking our services:

• Admission, Assessment and Referral Services
• Alcohol Outpatient Family Services
• Outpatient Services for Substance Abusers
• Adolescent Services (Residential)
• Adolescent Second Opportunity School (S.O.S.)
• Adult Outpatient Services (Medically Supervised)
• Women's Services (Intensive Outpatient)
• 'HIV Services
• Education & Training Services
• Court Services

For further information about our clinical programs,
contact outreach Project at
(718) 847-9233

A. Click Here to Download OTI's Application form in self extracting file that will allow you to fill in form on your own computer off line (500kb)
B.Click Here to Download OTI's Application form in Adobe's PDF format
(You can fill in form while Online on your own computer..you must have Adobe's Acrobat in your computer..if not, click on the Icon to download FREE Acrobat Reader)

(All information received will be held in the STRICTEST confidence)

If you encounter any problems or need further information that is not shown on this page, you may email
Mark Armiento, Vice President, Outreach Project  Email Mark Armiento VP

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© Outreach Project 2003