Addictions Treatment Professional’s Educational Bill of Rights
| 2009 - July |
Preamble:
Consumers of addictions treatment services have the right to be treated by qualified practitioners. Qualified practitioners are those who have engaged in a development process that upon completion certifies them as competent to practice. Research based standards are the rules that define both competence development and professional practice.
All addictions treatment professionals have a right to field specific standardized competencies that define competence and illustrate a process for professional development.
All addictions treatment professionals have a right to clearly defined professional development processes that provide opportunities for objective assessment of requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
All addictions treatment professionals have a right to be mentored by qualified addictions treatment practitioners. The term qualified indicates that they have completed a process that certifies them as competent instructors .
All addictions treatment professionals have a right to be trained within regulated academic institutions. The term regulated indicates that the programs must meet prescribed educational practice, administrative and clinical training standards. Also, that monitoring of programs is an ongoing process.
All addictions treatment professionals have a right to gain a credential that provides a guaranty of clinical and academic integrity.
All addictions treatment professionals have a right to a career ladder that is built upon a competence continuum. A competence continuum is one that illustrates competence beginning at the novice level and ending at the master level. Competence involves educational processes, relevant experience, and a demonstration of ability.
All addictions treatment professionals have a right to an individualized development plan that considers and incorporates their relevant strengths and experiences.
All addictions treatment professionals have a right and an obligation to contribute to the evolving body of knowledge that defines the field.
( 7 Votes )
It should serve as part of an essential foundation of quality assurance as much as existent best-practice mandates and ethical obligations, while also advancing and distinguishing substance abuse/addictions treatment as a true and bona fide profession.
It appears from my vantage point that substance abuse is on the rise in urban as well as suburban and rural areas of the county. Now more than ever families need a roadmap that support us in navigating this maze of funding, and treatment. Once we are in a position to fund, access and accept treatment our expectation is that the providers are professionally prepared to support us. Mr. Wards Professional's Educational Bill of Rights is a common sense approach that I am disappointed to know is not in place already and that we are starting from such a basic position.