Addictions & Community Support Worker
Working with people suffering from drug or alcohol addiction is a challenging and rewarding career path. Vancouver Career College's Addictions and Community Support Worker program prepares students to enter the growing field of community care.
The program teaches the fundamentals of addiction, human psychology, relapse prevention and the physical effects of substance abuse. Students also gain practical skills such as working with families and group facilitation techniques.
The 43-week program also teaches community support techniques such as dealing with special needs patients and domestic violence. Graduates will find work in settings like mental health centres, drug and alcohol treatment centres, and correctional institutes.
“I chose the college because it was highly recommended for being hired for any job. I liked the teachers. They were qualified teachers who knew what they were teaching. Also, the practicum helped me get a good job. I’m now doing a job that I love and it’s the right career for me. I am very happy doing what I really love … caring for people!” - Karen V., Vancouver Career College Graduate
Program Courses
The program outline below is for British Columbia.
| COURSE CODE | COURSE NAME | CREDITS |
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- The first component of this course is designed to introduce students to basic computer literacy through familiarization with the components that make up a computer. Students will also look at the Windows operating system to learn how to manage a computer on a regular basis. The second component of this course will teach the basic to intermediate skills required to work with a variety of business documents including the following Microsoft Office products: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint. The third and final component is designed to introduce students to considerations for living online. Students will look at what the Internet is and how e-mail has made a huge impact on communicating with others, as well as look at how to find information on the Internet and avoid risk to personal security while online.
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- Students will gain a better understanding of themselves through an exploration of their personal attributes, transferable skills and learning styles. This course will introduce techniques for time, conflict, and stressmanagement and develop interpersonal communication skills. Fundamental study and motivation skills will be covered, preparing students to excel in their program of choice. Students will also prepare a professional resume andlearn how to write effective cover letters.
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- Students will have the use of our Job Search lab which has unlimited Internet access, a job search resource library and a fax machine and phone for contacting prospective employers. Facilitators will also be made available to advise on job finding resources, interview skills and techniques, and to carry out mock interviews. Students review core program concepts and learning in order to market their skills effectively.
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- This subject provides basic drug information including thebasic pharmacological nature and effects of a range ofpsychoactive chemicals. Students will build knowledgerelating drug treatments/usage to various body systems andassociated states of disease.
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- This subject provides the student with a basic knowledgeand understanding of psychological concepts includinghistory of psychology, biology and behaviour, states ofconsciousness, learning, developmental psychology,motivation and emotion, psychological disorders andtherapies.
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- Secondary traumatic stress results from helping or wantingto help a traumatized or suffering person. Students will gaininsight into their personal strengths and weaknesses and willexplore methods to prevent/reduce secondary traumaticstress.
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- This subject deals with preparing social work-related writtenreports to communicate the progress of a client. The studentwill be introduced to various methods of recordinginformation, along with the requirements for various entriesto a file within the parameters of legal and ethicalrequirements. Basic computer skills are further developedthrough a series of assignments.
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- This subject will assist the student to define communicationskills and demonstrate how to use them effectively in manytypes of situations. A group of core communication skills isessential to any interview, whether it takes place incounselling, nursing, social work, personnel work, orinformation gathering.
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- This subject will enable the student to become aware of thevarious testing procedures and the methods by which anappropriate and accurate assessment can be made.Subjects covered include laboratory testing, psychometricassessment, interviews, services, analysis of life situations,differential diagnosis and the matching hypothesis.
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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.
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- This subject is designed to provide the student with aframework in which to view helping functions and relatedskills in a systematic manner. The subject concentrates onthe helper’s task of becoming a more aware and effectiveperson. The emphasis is on empowering others to helpthemselves through the development of communication andcoping skills.
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- This subject will provide students with an overview of howaddiction can impact the family unit. Understanding thefamily reaction is critical to providing caring support to therecovering addict and their loved ones. A recovery programthat does not address issues of co-dependency mayincrease the likelihood of persistent patterns of relapse forboth the addict and their family.
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- The goal of an Addictions Worker is to accurately assess theclient’s needs and provide the most appropriate referral in anethical manner. This subject establishes a framework toassess needs and explores the various services available inthe community. This is accomplished by guiding the studentthrough a series of assignments to enhance evaluation skillsand knowledge.
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- This subject provides the foundation for further in-depthsubjects in the study of addiction. The basic pharmacologicalnature and effects of a range of psychoactive chemicals arepresented, with an emphasis on challenging the myths ofwhich chemicals cost society the most in terms of economiccosts and social burden of human suffering. Specific targetpopulations are explored, focusing on women, children,adolescents, ethnic minorities, elderly, the disabled andthose suffering from mental illness. Assessment,intervention strategies, and treatment options are presented,along with the most common problems encountered duringtreatment.
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- The student is introduced to various health and relationshipconcerns that are relevant in chemically dependentindividuals. The student will learn to evaluate theeffectiveness of program delivery and begin to create newideas for promoting healthier lifestyle choices within a rangeof settings and diverse populations.
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- This subject will provide the student with an understanding ofrelapse as a natural part of the recovery process. Thestudent will study a range of strategies and techniques toassist in minimizing and preventing the effects of prolongedperiods of relapse during the journey of recovery. Studentsare guided through the entire relapse process by consideringthe application of some basic principles introduced in theCENAPS Model of Treatment (CENAPS is an acronym forCenter for Applied Behavioral Research).
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- Selected 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.
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- This module is for course credits but has no grade. Studentswill be placed in actual work places related to their field ofstudy and will be expected to act as a regular employee forthe six-week period in order to gain the valuable “real world”experience that so many employers seek.
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- Sustainability means meeting humanity’s needs withoutharming future generations. In this course, students willexplore the pillars of sustainability, sustainability’s relation tothe environmental movement, climate change and its effects,the Canadian and other governments’ actions, and how toincorporate sustainable practices into any workplace. Acombination of instructor presentations and timely, hands-onprojects will culminate in a student portfolio touching on thecourse’s key points.