Credentialed
Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC)
(granted by NYS)
American Institute for Creative Living
2295 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, N.Y. 10314
(718) 698-0300 IgnatiusU.org
CREDENTIALLED ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE (CASAC) PROGRAM (Provider #: 0057, NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services)
OASAS MANDATED 350 HOURS FOR CASAC
Section I- Knowledge
of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (85 clock hours [ Must include a minimum of 4
hours of training related to tobacco use and nicotine dependence]
Basic Knowledge: Physical and Pharmacological Effects. 30 clock hours
Overview of the Addiction Field. 28 clock hours [all numbers following are understood to
mean clock hours):
Diversity of Intervention and Treatment Approaches. 12
Introduction to Diagnostic Criteria. 6
Knowledge of 12 Step and Mutual Aid Groups. 6
Toxicology Testing / Screening. 3
Section II-
Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counseling (150 clock hours) [ Must include
minimum of 15 hours of training specific to Cultural Competence ]
Individual Counseling. 45
Group Counseling. 30
Counseling Special Populations / Cultural Competence. 30
Effects on Family- Counseling Families and Significant Others. 21
Theories of Human Development and the Relationship to Substance Abuse. 12
Health, Wellness and Communicable Diseases. 12
Section III-
Assessment; Clinical Evaluation; Treatment Planning; Case Management; and
Patient, Family and Community Education. ( 70 clock hours)
Assessment and Evaluation. 24
Treatment Planning, Client Record Keeping and Discharge Planning. 24
Case Management, Referral, and Service Coordination. 12
Patient, Family and Community Education and Prevention. 10
Section IV-
Professional and Ethical Responsibilities. (45 clock hours) [ Must include 15
hours specific to Ethics for Addiction Professionals and a minimum of 2 hours
in Child Abuse and Maltreatment: Mandated Reporter NYS Education Department
approved training ]
Counselor-Client Relationships. 18
Ethical Decision Making and Conduct. 9
Confidentiality / Legal Issues. 9
Child Abuse and Maltreatment. 2
Counselor Wellness. 7
TRAINING PROGRAM
All students are advised to obtain from NYS OASAS a full application packet with all the requirements in the various components for the CASAC. AICL does not provide advisement on any other requirements except the Educational Component (350 hours) which it offers. All segments of the Educational Component follow exactly the OASAS requirements. (AICL recommends that the student attend workshops that outside agencies may offer in preparation for the CASAC exam after the completion of the program. )
Each segment of the CASAC Educational Component requires full attendance for the required hours, homework and exams (written and oral) and class participation. If the segment requires 12 hours, completion of the segment is not given for anything less. In case of absence, the specific missing hours must be made up in order to complete satisfactorily the particular segment. Additional fees are charged for make-up hours (See Fees).
The student is expected to achieve a satisfactory grade in each segment and will not be admitted to additional segments unless prior work is satisfactory. If a segment is rated unsatisfactory, the entire segment must be repeated with an entire new tuition due.
HISTORY
American Institute for Creative Living is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt mental health counseling center serving Staten Island for over forty years. AICL has been offering the CASAC program for over a quarter century.
PHILOSOPHY
AICL attempts to provide the most up to date curriculum in the field with well trained faculty who have been teaching for many years and are practicing, seasoned counselors.
FACILITY
AICL has been located in the same building for nearly forty years where all classes are held. The facility has ten rooms: individual counseling and group rooms, class rooms, secretarial station, computer room, meditation room, closed circuit TV room, library and outdoor cloistered garden. Classes are scheduled contingent upon request for courses. An attempt is made to accommodate immediately all requests including one-to-one instruction.
ADMISSION
Please refer to Application Form. The minimum requirement for admission is a high school diploma or the GED; three letters of recommendation; a good ethical / legal record; and a satisfactory interview with the Director of Training. All students remain on a probationary status while enrolled in the completion of the Program.
COMPLIANCE
AICL does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or physical or mental handicap in any of its policies, practices, and procedures. These policies and procedures include, but are not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services.
FEES
Application fee is $50 (non-refundable). Hourly (60 minutes) class time rates: $25, one to one instruction; $15, two to three students in class; $12, four to five students; $10, six or more. The program of 350 hours is divided into segments of varying length by OASAS. The fee for the segment is calculated by multiplying the hourly rate by the number of hours in the particular segment. Refund Policy: No refund after 20% of the segment has been held; 50% refund before 20 % of segment has been completed. 90% refund before the first class.
QUESTIONS?
Questions on the CASAC educational program and / or the Application for
Admission may be directed to the Training Director either by e-mail: IgnatiusU@aol.com or by calling
(718) 698-0300 (24/7)/
SCHEDULE
American
Institute reserves the right to change the Schedule. Every effort will be taken
to inform the student(s) as far in advance as possible of any changes.
Under OASAS regulations, 350 clock hours of education are
required for the CASAC. To assist the student in fulfilling these requirements
American Institute for Creative Living has two programs: A. Full Standard
Program and B. Individual Segments.
A. Full Standard Program
This program is arranged for those students having no prior
OASAS approved courses toward the 350 class hours. This is a three year part
time program. (During this same time you may complete your other CASAC
requirements such as clinical experience in facilities outside AICL.) Classes
are conducted on Wednesday evenings 6-9.
Two semesters are given in an academic year- 1. September
through January and 2. February though June. The first semester begins the first week in September and runs for
twenty consecutive weeks; the second semester
begins the first week in February and runs for twenty consecutive weeks. The
twenty week sequence may be interrupted by holidays and the like; these closed
dates are announced at the beginning of the semester.
First Year
Spring
Section I, # 1 & 2
Fall
Section I, # 4-6
Section II, # 1
Second Year
Spring
Section II, # 2 & 3
Fall
Section II, # 4-6
Third Year
Spring
Section III, #1-3
Fall
Section III #4
Section IV # 1-5
B. Individual Segments
In certain cases, students may have completed most of the 350
hours at other CASAC approved programs but lack one or two segments. (Note that
a segment must be taken in its entirety as set forth by OASAS.) Those students
lacking in specific segment(s) may take that segment on a rolling enrollment
basis. In such cases, only one segment may be taken at a time; scheduling is
arranged on a case by case basis with the Director. The number of hours per
week to fulfill the total hour requirement of the segment may vary but students
are expected to complete a minimum of three hours per week. This provides for
continuity and integrity of the segment.
APPLICATION – Please click here for the full
application
RECREDENTIALING
As of January 1, 2010, after more than a quarter century, American Institute for Creative Living voluntarily withdrew from the National Program on Non-Collegiate Sponsored Instruction (NPONSI). This change was made because AICL and Ignatius University had in place a cooperative with Sofia University. Presently, college credit may only be awarded when the courses are also taken with Sofia University. There is an additional SU tuition when college credit is requested. The Sofia University transcript may then be submitted to Excelsior College. Student pays a modest fee for transcript transactions. AICL will assist the student in linking with Sofia University.
New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance
Abuse Services
State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services. American Institute for Creative Living,
an affiliate of Ignatius University, is a provider for NYSOASAS.
The following courses are approved for Recredentialing .
Please see the section on Course Descriptions [ Psychology, IgnatiusU.org ] for
requirements in each course. There is continuous enrollment. .
Counseling the Addictive Person (45 hours, Section I), Psy. 110/310
[includes 4 hours tobacco & nicotine dependence]
Psychopathology of the Addict ( 40 hours, Section I ), Psy. 103/303
Interviewing Skills with Addicts (45 hours, Section II), Psy 101/301 [includes
15 hours specific to cultural competence]
Rehabilitation Counseling with Addicts (45 hours, Section II), Psy. 108/308
Group Dynamics I with Addicts ( 60 hours, Section II), Psy. 106/306
Adolescent and Adult Development (45 hours, Section II), Psy.104/304
Infant and Child Development (45 hours, Section II), Psy.102/302
Psychopathology of Addictive Disorders (20 hours, Section III), Psy.
103/303
Counseling the Family of Addicts (50 hours, Section III), Psy. 107/307
Approaches to Counseling with Addicts (45 hours, Section IV), Psy 105/305
[includes 2 hours child abuse & maltreatment, mandated reporter
training http://www.nysmandatedreporter.org/default2.html
and 15 hours specific to ethics for addictions professionals.]
Counseling the Child (45 hours), Psy. 117/407
Counseling the Couple (45 hours), Psy. 118/408
Group Dynamics II (60 hours), Psy. 109/309
Advanced Group Dynamics II (45 hours), Psy.115/405
Counseling the Elderly (45 hours), Psy. 122/412
Counseling Practicum I (45 hours), Psy. 201/501
Counseling Practicum II (45 hours), Psy. 202/502
Advanced Group Dynamics I (45 hours), Psy. 112/402
Counseling the Adolescent (45 hours), Psy. 120/410
Career Counseling (45 hours), Psy 121/411 .
American Institute for Creative Living is also a provider for OASAS of he Credentialed Prevention Professional (CPP) and the Credentialed Prevention Specialist (CPS).
Undergraduate level courses require, in addition to the above Course Description requirements, a five page paper dealing specifically with Alcohol or Substance Abuse. Courses may be taken on either the undergraduate or graduate level and may bear college credit recommendations.
Key Changes to the Part 853 Credentialing of Addictions Professionals Regulations: http://www.oasas.ny.gov/sqa/credentialing/ChgstoCrdReg.cfm
Part 853 Credentialing of Addictions Professionals Regulations: http://www.oasas.ny.gov/regs/documents/853.pdf
Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.oasas.ny.gov/sqa/credentialing/faqs.cfm#CASAC
FEES: $15 per 60 minutes when two or more in class; $25 per 60 minutes when one to one with instructor; Refunds: 90% before first class; 50% before 1/5 of meeting; no refunds after 1/5 of classes have been held.