To our CAADE Community:
It is true that, at least for the moment, CAADE is unable to certify or give the exam. We fully intend to apply and be granted that status, so this is only a temporary setback. We are working round the clock with the other agencies CADTP and CCAPP, to ensure that our members are taken care of until we are granted certification status again from the State. Our membership and their status is our number one priority at this time, and we encourage you to please be patient. Members have between 15 days and 6 months to apply with one of the other organizations, so there is no rush and should be no panic. To be clear CAADE has not dissolved or merged at this time with any other agency. In compliance with DHCS we are officially notifying you directly of the following:
MHSUDS INFORMATION NOTICE NO.: 17-067, issued from the Department of Health Care Services states the following:
“Regulation specifies that an AOD counselor registered or certified with a CO that is no longer approved by DHCS must register with one of the other DHCS approved certifying organizations within six (6) months of receiving written notification or prior to the expiration of his/her certification (whichever is sooner). Failure to re-register with a DHCS approved certifying organization within this timeframe will leave the holder of a registration or certification without a valid registration or certification.”
We have posted on our website communication regarding our collaborative efforts and links to the other two certifying bodies in the State, the California Consortium of Addiction Professionals (CCAPP), and the California Association of DUI Programs (CADPT), to protect our membership of certified counselors in the profession, while we experience some transition in our ability to certify counselors once they have completed their coursework through our colleges.
CAADE is still in the business of accrediting college and career track programs, and providing quality continuing education units (CEU’s). Our organization was built on the foundation of accrediting college programs and higher standards for counselors and we will continue to work on getting programs accredited with those standards for students entering the workforce to become Alcohol and Drug counselors. We will continue to accredit Colleges, University and career track programs, with the highest of standards, in alignment with SAMHSA Career Ladder and the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Committee (NASAC) guidelines, and NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals.
There will be direct correspondence coming to you by our ACCBC Board keeping you up to date on our certification processes and collaborative efforts with the other two certifying agencies regarding transfers, testing, fees, and other questions you may have regarding your current certification or registration with intent to certify. Our office staff is working hard to answer your calls and emails to the best of their ability at this time, so please be patient with them as we go through this transition.
Thank you for your commitment to CAADE. We are still committed to each of you and your educational goals. You are the workforce serving in a profession with the highest educational standards, helping individuals, families, and communities to recover.