Understanding and Utilizing Twelve Step Programs

The Addiction Technology Transfer Center of New England , funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), is offering an introductory course on the use of 12 Step Programs as a treatment component. 

Twelve-Step programs are an important component in the treatment of addictions. They are often one of the few options available to recovering addicts and alcoholics as an on-going aftercare component. However, many clinicians have limited knowledge about these programs which impedes the clinician's ability to make successful referrals to 12 Step programs and/or to help the client resolve questions and concerns about such programs.

This introductory course is designed to orient mental health and addictions professionals to the philosophies and practices of 12 Step programs. Through on-line presentation, additional readings, and attendance at an open 12 Step meeting, participants will enhance their knowledge of these programs and increase their effective utilization of them in referral and treatment planning.

This program will be taught by Jim Wuelfing, BA, NRPP, CPP-R. Jim is owner of the New England Center, a company dedicated to quality training and technical assistance services. He has many specialties including, prevention, community awareness, curriculum development, peer education, stress management and problem gambling prevention. The New England Center presently holds contracts with the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling and the DMHAS Compulsive Gambling Treatment Program as well several agencies, colleges and universities. He has trained professionals around the country and in Europe. Jim has been on the faculty of the New England School of Alcohol Studies for eight years. Prior to owning his own business, Jim was the Training Manager at the ETP Center in East Hartford, CT and served for thirteen years as an Associate Dean of Students at Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA.

Course Objectives

  • To provide a basic understanding of the philosophy behind 12 Step programs by exploring AA literature, the Preamble of Alcoholics Anonymous, and attending an open meeting
  • To provide a basic understanding of the history of Alcoholics Anonymous and how the many other programs evolved out of AA
  • To explore the 12 Steps themselves as a spiritual program of recovery from addictions
  • To experience an open meeting of AA, make journal entries and share the journal with other class members
  • To provide a forum for questions raised from the experience of attending a meeting as well as practical applications in referral and discussions with clients

Course Requirements

This is a five week course, beginning on Monday, June 30, 2008. Requirements are:

  • Required on-line reading (one hour per week)
  • Completion of pre and post test
  • Completion of weekly homework assignments (one hour per week)
  • Participation in the weekly forum
  • Completion of an on-line course evaluation

*Please note that there are no real time events associated with this course. Lessons will be posted on the class WWW home page on Tuesdays and responses are due the following Monday. Assignments can be accessed at the participant's convenience.

The total cost of this course is $40.00 the course payment is due by June 30, 2008.  A full refund is available up until the posting of the second lesson (July 10, 2008), after which there will be no refunds.

ACCREDITATION

This five-week course, which begins June 30, 2008, has been approved by the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) for 10  educational credits. It is being provided by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center of New England, which is accredited as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider (#000151). This course meets the qualifications for 10 hours of continuing education credit for MFCC's and/or LCSW's as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (PCE#1917). This course is approved by the Connecticut Certification Board (CCB) for ten Category 1 continuing education for Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC's). The CCB is an IC&RC affiliate. The New York State OASAS does accept distance education CEUs provided by the Addiction Technology Transfer Network for individuals pursuing or renewing a CASAC, CPP or CPS.Certificates will be mailed within two weeks to participants in the program for its duration who submit all required materials. Please contact your local certification board to verify reciprocity or acceptance of ATTC-NE contact hours.

To participate, you must have:

  • An E-mail address and the capacity to retrieve and send E-mail;
  • Access to World Wide Web (the following programs provide WWW access: Netscape, Apple CyberDog, and Microsoft Explorer)
  • Participation in the weekly course bulletin board, which requires registration with the ATTC-NE bulletin board.  You need only register once to participate in all ATTC online course bulletin boards
  • Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher is the preferred browser for ATTC-NE online courses
  • A basic understanding of how to use a computer and send and receive email

PLEASE NOTE NETWORK AND COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT WILL NOT BE PROVIDED.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: June 30, 2008 or when the course limit is reached. 

To register for this course please go to the following WWW site and complete the 'Understanding 12 Steps' course online registration form. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COURSE
https://www.attc-ne.org/courses/344/reg.html

For a list of current ATTC-NE courses, please go to the following site:
http://www.Attc-ne.org and click on Distance Education.   Please Bookmark this site for future references. Course announcements will be made via the ATTC of New England Online Course Announcement Listserve 6-8 weeks prior to the start of each course. If you would like to be subscribed to this list, please contact Monte Bryant, Program Administrator, at Monte Bryant,  or (401) 863-6606.

This program is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).


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