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Diploma Program

Addictions and Community Services Worker

Diploma

44 weeks

Qualified Instructors

This program can be offered at the campus(es) below. Please contact the campus of your choosing for program availability and delivery methods.

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In Person (On Campus)

Distance

Distance (Online)

Combined

Combined

Employment Rate

84%

*Jan-Dec 2023, CDI College AB;

Average Wage

$24 /hour

*alis.alberta.ca; 2024;

Make an Impact With Addictions and Community Services Work

Guiding clients with alcohol and substance use issues is a challenging yet fulfilling career and truly makes a positive impact in your community. 

 

This program's seasoned professional instructors will help you build skills in various subjects, such as psychology, relapse prevention, nonviolent crisis intervention, pharmacology, and others, many of which you will use during a clinical practicum.

  • PSYCHOLOGY
  • BUSINESS WRITING
  • TREATMENT PLANNING
  • CASE FILE MANAGEMENT
  • GROUP FACILITATION
  • RELAPSE PREVENTION STRATEGIES
  • SECONDARY TRAUMA STRESS 
  • COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND NETWORKING
  • PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION AND PRESENTATION
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Licensed Program

CDI College Alberta programs are licensed under the Private Vocational Training Act in the province of Alberta.

 

Program Intro Background

Program Courses

Student Success Strategies

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The purpose of this course is to provide students with the knowledge, skills and study techniques to help foster effective learning and a positive educational experience. This course explores two components of learning styles, Multiple Intelligence-based theory and Personality Spectrum – MBTI-based theory, and how learning styles and personality types affect learning. The course will cover the importance of values, their relationship to goals and goal setting. Strategies for setting personal goals, prioritizing tasks, managing time, and the stress that results from study or work situations will be explored and practiced through active participation in learner-centred activities. Effective study habits, techniques for preparing for tests and productive note taking strategies are key topics of this course that will provide the students with the necessary skills and attitudes to be successful in school. Having a sound understanding of financial, money, credit and debt matters and their implication on our lives is critical knowledge to have. Students taking this course will benefit from completing the Financial Management Workshops, which provides comprehensive coverage of financial and money management skills that will allow them to better save, budget, and manage their money and financial situations.

PsychoIogy

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This subject provides the student with a basic knowledge and understanding of psychological concepts that can be applied in the subjects that follow.

  • Introduction to Psychology
  • History of Psychology
  • Biology and Behaviour
  • States of Consciousness
  • Learning
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Motivation and Emotion
  • Psychological Disorders
  • Therapies

Case File Management & Report Writing

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This subject deals with preparing social work-related written reports to communicate the progress of a client. The student will be introduced to various methods of recording information, along with the requirements for various entries to a file within the parameters of legal and ethical requirements. Basic computer skills are further developed through a series of assignments.

Introduction to Intake Procedures and Treatment Planning

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This course focuses on developing students’ understanding of the intake and planning processes. Our graduates work in a broad range of settings across the social services and therefore encounter of a wide variety of standardized and in-house intake and psychometric tools. In light of this, Introduction to Intake Procedures and Treatment Planning centers on developing portable and universal “hands-on” skills in interviewing and planning so that our graduates have a solid practical basis from which to start. This module helps the student understand the role of the support worker in intake procedures and treatment planning. Furthermore, the module helps the student understand the purpose of intake and treatment planning, well as the professional challenges support workers might encounter while doing these tasks., differential diagnosis and the matching hypothesis.

Communications Fundamentals

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This subject provides a comprehensive study of effective communication skills and techniques the student will useboth professionally and personally. The subject will sharpen skills to work effectively in a professional helping relationship. Students will also learn how to conduct an effective job search and how to continue their development as an addictions worker. 

Ethics

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This subject is designed to provide the student with a framework in which to view helping functions and related skills in a systematic manner. The subject concentrates on the helper’s task of becoming a more aware and effective person. The emphasis is on empowering others to help themselves through the development of communication and coping skills. Topics include reasons for students seeking a career in the helping profession; practical strategies for ensuring quality experiences in fieldwork and supervision stages of the helping process; common problems at work in regards to resistance, transference, counter transference and difficult clients; ethical awareness and learning for helpers; value and belief systems of helpers; one’s role in the community as a helper; stress and burnout; and more.

Group Facilitation Concepts

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This subject will provide the student with an overview of the nature of group work in a social service setting and an opportunity to explore relevant techniques and exercises designed to enhance group work.

  • The role of techniques
  • Getting groups established
  • Techniques for the initial stage
  • Techniques for the transition stage
  • Techniques for the working stage
  • Techniques for the final stage

Community Resources & Networking

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The goal of an addictions worker is to accurately assess the client’s needs and provide the most appropriate referral in an ethical manner. This subject establishes a framework to assess needs and explores the various services available in the community. This is accomplished by guiding the student through a series of assignments to enhance evaluation skills and knowledge.

Interviewing Techniques

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This subject will assist the student to define communication skills and demonstrate how to use them effectively in many types of situations. A group of core communication skills is essential to any interview, whether it takes place in counselling, nursing, social work, personnel work, or information gathering. 

Fundamentals of Addiction

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This subject provides the foundation for further in-depth subjects in the study of addiction. The basic pharmacological nature and effects of a range of psychoactive chemicals are presented with an emphasis on challenging the myths of which chemicals cost society the most in terms of economic costs and social burden of human suffering. Specific target populations are explored, focusing on women, children, adolescents, ethnic minorities, elderly, the disabled, and those suffering from mental illness. Assessment, intervention strategies, and treatment options are presented along with the most common problems encountered during treatment.

Fundamentals of Pharmacology

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This subject provides basic drug information including the basic pharmacological nature and effects of a range of psychoactive chemicals. Students will build knowledge relating drug treatments/usage to various body systems and associated states of disease.

Preventive Health Promotion

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The student is introduced to various health and relationship concerns that are relevant in chemically dependent individuals. The student will learn to evaluate the effectiveness of program delivery and begin to create new ideas for promoting healthier lifestyle choices within a range of settings and diverse populations.

Relapse Prevention & Intervention

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This subject will provide the student with an understanding of relapse as a natural part of the recovery process. The student will study a range of strategies and techniques to assist in minimizing and preventing the effects of prolonged periods of relapse during the journey of recovery. Students are guided through the entire relapse process by considering the application of some basic principles introduced in the CENAPS Model of Treatment (CENAPS is an acronym for Center for Applied Behavioral Research).

Secondary Traumatic Stress

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Secondary traumatic stress results from helping or wanting to help a traumatized or suffering person. Students will gain insight into their personal strengths and weaknesses and will explore methods to prevent/reduce secondary traumatic stress. 

Working with Families

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This subject will provide students with an overview of how addiction can impact the family unit. Understanding the family reaction is critical to providing caring support to the recovering addict and their loved ones. A recovery program that does not address issues of co-dependency may increase the likelihood of persistent patterns of relapse for both the addict and their family.

High Risk Populations

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Understanding about high risk populations provides the foundation for further in-depth examination of the relationship between substance abuse and a specific population in society. The purpose of this course is to gain a realistic perspective of drug-related problems affecting different sub-populations in society. To understand the complex issues surrounding drugs in our society, we need to recognize the enormous diversity that exists within the general population. This course will provide the student with the basic knowledge around being a multicultural counsellor and working specifically with sub-populations that are regularly encountered. 

Youth Issues

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This course is designed to give students an overview of the issues that our youth are facing in today’s society. The course looks at three general areas of concern related to youth issues. The first part of the course is aimed at describing what is meant by at-risk and who these at-risk youth are. This is essential in order to better understand what the common risk factors that contribute to youth becoming at risk are. Secondly, the student will learn about the different at-risk categories in order to explore the various issues and problems. Finally, the course will look at the different intervention, prevention, and treatment strategies or models.

Community Services Worker Certificates

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In this module, students earn the three external certificates bundled into their program:

  • Level 1 First Aid/CPR
  • Level 1 ASIST Suicide Intervention & Prevention
  • Level 1 Non-violent Crisis Intervention (NCI)

Non-Violent Crisis Intervention 

This course is designed to help participants learn to recognize warning signs that allow for early intervention in a crisis as well as how to use both verbal and non-verbal techniques to avoid a violent confrontation. The use of non-violent crisis intervention allows for recognizing individuals in distress early on and using appropriate techniques to address the situation before it becomes a crisis. 

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training 

This course designed to teach the skills to allow one to intervene with a youth at risk of suicide. The course prepares people to integrate principles of intervention into everyday practice. The curriculum covers attitudes, knowledge, intervention and resources. Skills and principles are illustrated with case studies presented in a variety of formats including live dramatizations, role-play simulations and discussions. Participants will learn how to reduce attitudinal barriers which hinder the ability to be direct and comfortable with suicidal situations, dispel myths about youth suicide, identify the indicators and assess suicidal risk, intervene with a youth at risk of suicide, and engage in efforts to build collaborative resource networks for suicidal youth. 

Career & Employment Strategies

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In addition to learning career-oriented skills, students learn how to get a job in their chosen profession. Our Employment Services department will assist the graduate in resume writing, as well as preparing for job interviews. Our staff is sensitive to current job market trends and the needs of employers in each local market.
Our graduates receive guidance and training to use career tools that help job seekers build a better resume and cover letter, manage an online portfolio, hone interviewing skills, and develop a personal brand online.
Students will have the use of a computer lab which has unlimited Internet access, as well as job search resources. Facilitators will also be made available to advise on job finding resources, interview skills and techniques and to carry out mock interviews.

This course also looks at the planning, preparation, execution, and follow-up stages of an interview:

  • How people find jobs
  • Employer expectations
  • Presenting an enthusiastic attitude
  • Focusing on the right job and the hidden job market
  • Transferrable skills
  • Thank you letters
  • Effective telemarketing
  • Handling objections, self-confidence, and self-esteem
  • Individual counselling and coaching

Practicum

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This program includes eight weeks (300 hours) of practicum.

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Admission

Benefits of this program

Employment Opportunities

All applicants must meet with an admissions representative in addition to ONE of the following criteria:

  • Standard Admissions (Students must meet ALL of the following criteria):
    • Provide a signed sobriety declaration (form provided by the College)
    • Alberta high school diploma or equivalent verified by transcript or DAR

 

  • Mature Admissions (Students must meet ALL of the following criteria): 
    • Successfully interview with the Campus Director, program coordinator or designate;
    • Provide a signed sobriety declaration (form provided by the College);
    • Be at least 18 years of age prior to admission (19 for out of province); and
    • Successful completion of the Reeves College Admissions Test.
    • *Manitoba applicants must also have been out of school for one year in addition to the above

Note: The existence of a criminal record may result in a candidate being denied acceptance by a work experience site.

  • Start a new healthcare career in an in-demand field in AB
  • Get hands-on training
  • Study under experienced instructors
  • Make a positive impact on your community
  • Get multiple industry certifications
  • Become eligible for Associate Addiction Counsellor status
  • Develop and implement prevention strategies
  • Work through real-life scenarios during a practicum placement
  • Receive assistance in locating jobs and creating resumes from our Career Services department
  • Addiction Support Worker 
  • Community Service Worker 
  • Social Service Worker 
  • Community Support Worker

All applicants must meet with an admissions representative in addition to ONE of the following criteria:

  • Standard Admissions (Students must meet ALL of the following criteria):
    • Provide a signed sobriety declaration (form provided by the College)
    • Alberta high school diploma or equivalent verified by transcript or DAR

 

  • Mature Admissions (Students must meet ALL of the following criteria): 
    • Successfully interview with the Campus Director, program coordinator or designate;
    • Provide a signed sobriety declaration (form provided by the College);
    • Be at least 18 years of age prior to admission (19 for out of province); and
    • Successful completion of the Reeves College Admissions Test.
    • *Manitoba applicants must also have been out of school for one year in addition to the above

Note: The existence of a criminal record may result in a candidate being denied acceptance by a work experience site.

  • Start a new healthcare career in an in-demand field in AB
  • Get hands-on training
  • Study under experienced instructors
  • Make a positive impact on your community
  • Get multiple industry certifications
  • Become eligible for Associate Addiction Counsellor status
  • Develop and implement prevention strategies
  • Work through real-life scenarios during a practicum placement
  • Receive assistance in locating jobs and creating resumes from our Career Services department
  • Addiction Support Worker 
  • Community Service Worker 
  • Social Service Worker 
  • Community Support Worker
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Hear From Our Graduates

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My instructor Is an excellent teacher. He was able to build my confidence and gave me the tools to succeed!

Sandra W.

Addictions and Community Services Worker Graduate

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A great experience and a great course! Addiction Counselling and Community Worker program. Kelly Johnson is very professional and knowledgeable and keeps classes fun and organized.

Darlene U.

Addictions & Community Services Worker Graduate

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