Informed Consent Summer 2017

Q U A R T E R L Y N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E

C O N N E C T I C U T C E R T I F I C A T I O N B O A R D , I N C .

Volume 1, Number 2

Protecting the public by enhancing recovery oriented workforce development.

Connecticut Certification Board, Inc. 98 South Turnpike Road, Suite D Wallingford, CT 06492

203.284.8800 - 203.284.9500 (Fax) www.ctcertboard.org

A proud IC&RC member board

3rd Annual CCB Awards Dinner

May 11, 2017

Radisson Hotel, Cromwell, CT

( See Page 2 for story )

Andrew Kessler, JD Principal, Slingshot Solutions

Keynote Speaker Washington, DC

Chelsi Flood, LADC, LMSW Mountainside

Young Professional Award Recipient

Joseph Sullivan, LCSW MCCA (retired)

David Powell Lifetime of Service Award Recipient

For more information on how Slingshot Solutions can propel your organization forward, contact Andrew Kessler at 571.426.0297 or via

email at Andrew@slingshotsolutions.net

Cover Story

CCB Annual Awards Dinner

The Connecticut Certification Board held its Annual Awards Dinner for the third

consecutive year at the Radisson Hotel in Cromwell. Over 100 individuals attended to honor

the recipients of the awards, but also to be recognized themselves for representing the

Connecticut SUD workforce with professionalism and pride.

Joseph Sullivan, LCSW, the David Powell Lifetime of Service Award winner, recounted a

discussion with a former colleague and playfully paraphrased his sentiments when

discussing how he maintained such a long and successful career: “I went to work every day,

and I didn’t die.” In a more serious moment, Joe credited surrounding himself with good

people as the basis for his success, starting with his wife, Helen. We congratulate Joe and

Helen on fifty years of marriage. Much of MCCA’s senior leadership was in attendance for

the occasion, including President/CEO John D’Eramo, Chief Operating Officer Jaya

Daptadar, Chief Clinical Officer Richard Radocchia and Director of Marketing and

Communications Lee Bodkin. We thank them for their support of this event.

The Young Professional Award this year was given to Chelsi Flood, LADC, LMSW of

Mountainside, the second employee from this agency to be honored with the award.

Alexandra Helfer, the inaugural winner and current Vice President of Program

Development, was on hand to present this year’s honor to her colleague and friend. Alex’s

participation in honoring this year’s winner is evidence of the agency’s training and

development of young professionals, and also shows their support of the CCB’s mission.

Andrew Kessler, JD, Principal of Slingshot Solutions, which has specialized in advocacy

for organizations concerned with Behavioral Health policies and regulations since 2008,

presented the keynote address. The 30 minute presentation, “Substance Use Disorder Policy

in Washington, DC: Progress and Pragmatism” outlined the history of SUD policy inside the

beltway. From the roots of Prohibition to the Attorney General’s current call for a new War

On Drugs, Kessler provided a call to action. He encouraged attendees to contact their

legislators to demand action supporting SUD prevention, treatment and recovery, stressing

the importance of community action: “If I told you 30 years ago that a small group of gay

men in San Francisco would change the face of HIV policy and be responsible for billions of

dollars in funding, you would have called me crazy, yet here we are today with that having

happened.” Thanks to the guidance and representation of Slingshot, we have been able to be

part of the discussions for solutions at SAMHSA, NIDA, ONDCP and both houses of

Congress.

P.O. Box 1315 Annandale, VA 22003

Andrew will be presenting in the Executive and Leadership Program at the National Conference on Addiction Disorders in Baltimore, from

August 16 to 20th. www.ncadcon.com

We are all aware that the Republican majority of the United States House of

Representatives recently voted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (better known

as Obamacare), which has received significant criticism. The bill now goes to the Senate for

further action. One fact remains, that many of the individuals that seek SUD care will be

adversely affected by this, as tens of millions of people would be at risk of losing their

coverage. Where do you stand on the issue? Decide for yourself by reading the entire text of

the bill at https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1628

As we move forward in 2017, the subject of clinical supervision continues to need to be

addressed. We recognize that this is the backbone of what we do, from protection of the

client and professional development as well as adherence to best practices and ethical

standards. In practice, many professionals may become supervisors for any number of

reasons, be it obtaining a new license or their competence as a clinician. However, being the

strongest clinician within a program, or obtaining a license does not necessarily prepare one

for the role of clinical supervisor. Even higher education is not the answer as very few, if

any, master’s programs actually teach students how to supervise others. Additional skills

and competencies, those not commonly taught, are required. It is my goal to make such

training opportunities more readily available through the rest of the year. Please consider

looking into available opportunities whether you are a supervisor, aspire to be one, or just

want to learn skills that will even make you a better supervisee.

July 2017 marks great change within the Board. Two long term Board members and

Officers of the Executive Committee, Vice President Steve Karp and Treasurer Joe Sullivan,

have come to the end of their terms and will be leaving the Board. Although two current

Directors have been elected to the Executive Committee by their peers—Jay Cummings as

Vice President and Marlene (Orr) DeSantis as Treasurer—other vacancies exist and are in

the process of being filled. Anyone having interest in serving should reach out to me

directly. That being said, I offer my gratitude to Steve and Joe for both their commitment

and efforts, as well as their guidance as I continue to learn to best serve the interests of the

profession.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Kathryn Power, Region 1

Administrator of SAMHSA and Alison Knopf, Editor of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Weekly for

their kind words about the CCB. Both were unable to attend the dinner this year due to

prior commitments, but each wrote a letter of support that were printed as part of the

event’s program. We appreciate the support of SAMHSA as we works towards fulfilling our

mission, and we are very thankful for the opportunity to contribute to a widely read

publication on a regular basis. Alison’s letter is reprinted in this issue of this newsletter.

See you at the 4th Annual Awards Dinner on May 10, 2018!

Consent for Disclosure

Connecticut Certification Board

To: Connecticut SUD Workforce

From: Jeffrey Quamme, Executive Director

Purpose of this disclosure: This personal information may be

used only by the person (or people) I authorize to receive this in-

formation for continuous quality improvement or

other purposes as I may direct.

This authorization shall be in force and effect until August 31,

2017 at which time this authorization expires

Signature/Date: Jeffrey Quamme 6/1/2017

IC&RC Exam Passing Rates The Connecticut Certification Board is proud to

announce that our credentialing candidates

have passed their respective IC&RC

certification exams at a rate of 92% during the

first quarter of 2017, well over the national

average of between 70-75%. We are excited to

continue to be one of the strongest performing

boards under the IC&RC umbrella. The CCB

will launch an exam preparation workshop

this, in hopes of showing even more positive

results. Keep checking our website for updates.

Thanks to all of our professionals for the hand you play in our success!

Need Information? Start At Our Website The answers to most commonly asked

questions can almost always be found on our

website. Save time and go to

www.ctcertboard.org to see:

Credential applications and standards

Secure payments through PayPal

Ethics guides and forms

Verification of credentials

News updates

Job postings

Training opportunities

Exam preparation materials

www.ctcertboard.org

Coming Fall 2017

CAC EXAM PREP

When I was looking into various stories about medication-assisted treatment in Connecticut, I relied on the Connecticut Certification Board for help. Why? Because the biggest missing piece in the use of pharmacotherapy to treat substance use disorders is the people who do more than just prescribe. If taking a pill or an injection could cure substance use disorders on their own, the opioid epidemic would have been solved long ago. But counselors are essential.

Not just any counselors, though. Counselors have to be trained and undergo hundreds of hours of supervision when working with patients.

And the CCB is the agency that makes sure the people providing counseling for substance use disorders in Connecticut are qualified.

Connecticut is a banner state in many ways. One of the few which strongly encourages medication-assisted treatment -- even, now, in prisons and jails – the state needs more of such counselors.

For example, when the state’s Department of Correction took the first steps to institute methadone maintenance treatment for inmates, it was CCB executive director Jeffrey Quamme who gave ADAW readers the clear guidance that the organization “strongly support[s] the plan to expand methadone treatment in the prisons to help those who are opioid dependent upon incarceration,” because it supports “all paths to recovery.” Mr. Quamme added: “Not only does it help the treatment system in the Department of Correction by adopting this evidence-based practice, we also believe that helping inmates avoid terrible withdrawal symptoms is not only humane, but lessens the burden on the correctional custodial staff and medical providers by avoiding having to respond to the issues associated with the symptoms of withdrawal.”

That, as journalists would say, is a “money quote.” And it is just one example of how the CCB is repre-senting the value of counselors on a national, not just state, arena. Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly has interviewed Mr. Quamme many times over the years, and looks forward to continuing to do so. Just last month a top lead was about the importance of counselors in general, with the CCB clearly demonstrating the professionalism of their work.

Having this kind of representation in a national spotlight on one of the most pressing crises in the SUD world today is valuable to counselors, whose importance is too often underappreciated and misunderstood. They are the backbone of recovery for their patients.

Alison Knopf Editor Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly 4-30-17

Alison has been editor of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly since 2005.

The heights by great men reached and kept,

Were not attained by sudden flight,

But they, while their companions slept,

Were toiling upward in the night. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

CCB and IC&RC

The CCB is a proud member of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium, a

network of over 50,000 professionals and 78 member boards that cover the globe. The

IC&RC is recognized as a global resource that promotes public protection by offering

internationally-recognized credentials and examinations for prevention, substance use

disorder treatment and recovery professionals.

www.internationalcredentialing.org

LEADERSHIP David Turpin (NC), President Donna Johnson (GA), Vice President

Jeffrey Quamme (CT), Secretary Mark Attanasi, (OK), Treasurer

Mary Jo Mather, Executive Director

Rachel Witmer, Assistant Director

IC&RC promotes public protection by offering internationally-recognized

credentials and examinations for prevention, substance use treatment,

and recovery professionals.

We welcome the Korea Certification Board of Addiction Professionals

in Seoul, South Korea to the IC&RC network

Member Boards

IC&RC standards and

exams are used

exclusively by IC&RC

Boards. Each Board is

independently run and

operated with their

own jurisdictionally

specific processes. If

you want to take an

exam or earn a

credential, contact the

board in your

jurisdiction.

Public Protection

IC&RC promotes

public protection by

setting standards and

developing exams for

credentialing

prevention, substance

use treatment, and

recovery professionals.

Organized in 1981, it

has a worldwide

network of over 50,000

professionals.

Evidence-Based Practices

Quality and integrity

are the foundation of

IC&RC’s work.

IC&RC’s products use

the latest research on

evidence-based

practices, and they are

updated every five

years and subjected to

an extensive process of

peer review.

IMPORTANT! Please make sure to inform the CCB of any changes to your mailing address,

telephone number, employment information and email address to ensure that you

receive updates and information in a timely manner. Thanks!

Email changes to info@ctcertboard.org

B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s

The Board of Directors of the CCB are industry leaders in the state of Connecticut

and, in some cases, at the national level. They represent various agencies

throughout the state and have experience working with many different vulnerable

populations that our certified professionals serve. Many choose to serve on the

Board even in light of their many other commitments and provide the guidance that

allows us to operate at a high level. A special “Thank you” to the following who

volunteer their time and efforts to represent the Connecticut workforce.

E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e

David Borzellino, Farrell Treatment Center, New Britain, President

Jay Cummings, Gilead Community Services, Middletown, Vice President

Marlene DeSantis, Liberation Programs, Norwalk, Treasurer

Dr. Sandra Valente, NVCC, Waterbury, Secretary

D i r e c t o r s

Erica Cannata, APT Foundation, New Haven

Jennifer DeWitt, Central Naugatuck Valley RAC, Waterbury

Fred Fetta, DMHAS Problem Gambling Services, Middletown

Dr. Jaquel Patterson, Community Health Resources, Windsor

Maggie Young, Liberation Programs, Norwalk/Greenwich

Additional CCB Services for Available to Professionals and Agencies

In addition to credentialing, the Connecticut Certification Board has expertise in

several other areas and provides many different services designed to assist in the

development of a skilled and competent workforce. To that end, we collaborate with

individuals as well as for profit, not-for-profit and even governmental agencies in

furtherance of their prevention, treatment and recovery workforce needs.

Services include:

We have a network of 1500 professionals on our mailing list that want to know what

is happening in the field. Your information will be seen by the audience you are

trying to reach. To find out how we can help, contact Executive Director Jeffrey

Quamme directly. Let our expertise help you go even further.

Specialized Training Events Staff Development Consultation

Credential Readiness Review Examination Prep/Study

Job Postings Ethics Consultation

Let us also advertise your

Events and Fundraisers Agency Announcements

Tobacco and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Conventional wisdom has always told us that encouraging a patient in

SUD treatment to quit smoking would decrease their likelihood to enter and

to maintain recovery. Like much of what we once believed to be true (with

no empirical basis support of these perceptions), they have proven to be incorrect. As a

matter of fact, treating tobacco use improved alcohol and other drug outcomes by an

average of 25% (Prochaska, et al, 2006, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychiatry).

One of the largest barriers to addressing nicotine use while in treatment are the staff

attitudes towards smoking cessation. A 2014 study (Cookson, et al, “Smoking and Its

Treatment in Addiction Services: Client and Staff Behaviour and Attitudes” BMC Health

Services Research) presented information that up to 88% of clients in treatment are

smokers, with 79% of those individuals expressing a desire to quit, but only 15% being

offered any support. Among the staff, 45% were smokers themselves and only 29% felt

that tobacco use should be addressed early in treatment. Staff smoking behaviors may be

a significant factor in these findings.

We at the CCB are concerned with the overall health and wellness of the clients

served here in Connecticut. We certainly advise addressing nicotine dependence with all

users of tobacco products who enter treatment as a best practice. Let us help you with

resources to assist those you serve. For more useful information, you can access the

National Institute of Drug Abuse’s informational pages at https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cigarettes-other-tobacco-products.

Thank you to Geralyn Laut, MA, TSS, for her contribution to this article.

Individuals in substance use disorder treatment use tobacco at a rate

that is more than three times the national average.

Heavy smoking may contribute to increased use of cocaine and

heroin (NIDA Notes, 2000) Tobacco use impedes recovery of brain function among individuals

whose brains have been damaged by chronic alcohol use (Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 1997)

Treating tobacco use improved alcohol and other drug outcomes by

an average of 25%. We now know that it is better to seek recovery

from all addictions up front, not wait until later to address nicotine.

For Your Information Dr. Carl Hart, neuroscientist and chair of the Psychology department

at Columbia University, received death threats and had to cut a trip

to the Philippines short in early May. Dr. Hart was speaking

against President Duarte’s brutal war on drugs and sharing some

of his research findings at the “Drug Issues, Different Perspectives”

forum organized by the Free Legal Assistance Group at the

University of the Philippines. Dr. Hart is a powerful and

controversial speaker, eliciting strong positive and negative reactions,

but a response such as this is unprecedented. I had the opportunity

to speak on the same agenda as Dr. Hart, and spent some time with

him during the event. Agree or disagree with his views, Dr. Hart is a

brilliant researcher and presenter who forces us to challenge

conventional wisdom and have an open discussion. Welcome home,

Carl.

Executive Director Jeffrey Quamme with Dr. Hart at Utah Valley University in

2016

CCB Advertising Rates

Website

Job postings

$50/ $25 /$20

First posting/each additional/

Each additional Month

Events/Advertisements

(in rotating banner)

$100/$50

First month/ Each additional

1/4 Page $100

Half Page $150

Full Page $250

Newsletter (Quarterly)

We can also provide with custom packages depending upon your needs,

including email notifications and mailing list information for our

nearly 1500 subscribers that you want to reach. Contact jeff for

details. Spread your message!

Remember, you represent not only yourself, but your

agency, our Connecticut system of care and the profession

as a whole. Professionalism

Matters

Do you work with clients involved with DOC or CSSD supervision?

Become a Certified Criminal Justice Professional (CCJP). Click HERE

for more information.

Congratulations to the following professionals for earning new

credentials in 2017:

CAC Tracy Scanlan CPS Lynda Chapman

Arlene Lawrence Mary Gates Rachel Sadlon Susan Kaczmarek

Terence McCarthy Deborah Deren Kelly Leppard Susan Knapp

Tracey Onorato Alyssa Violette John Daviau Casie Timmons

Eleanor Joyce Diane Blackwood Kelley Edwards Cynthia Shaw

Brian Bonilla Dominique Vitelli Bonnie Smith Stephanie Levesque

Sheiketha Ross Olivia Weber Kristin Sandler Bianca McClain

Krista Tillotson Ramona Myers Robin Cox Eriberto Santos

Gina Tourangeau Justyna Wawrzonek Terry Budlong Brooke Scheinberg

Trisha Haynes Maria Sorenson Anne Marie Cox Keith Bray

Donna Medina Sara Hodis Colleen Sullivan Christopher Withington

Kevin Coleman CAC-P Kathryn Glendon Leonard Boudreau

Alexis Ayala Stephanie Levesque Lisa Mason Vincent O’Halloran

Charles Peterson Ann Morse Dawn Grodzki Minet Mitchell

Paul De La Reza Shanequa Lawrence Stephanie Moran Elaine Govia

Mary Bardini Paula Egan Carolyn Wilson Naida Rivera

Brandon Horton CCDP Karen Fischer Marissa Beaulieu

Brooke Scheinberg Mary Gotlibowski Susan McLaughlin Jereme Ford

Albert Perkins CCDP-D Lori Stancycz Dennis Leary

Michael Caazzeta Edna Glenn-Parker Wende Cooper Alberto Rosario

Louis Reed CCJP Anna Gasinski Mary Stellmacher

Kathryn Spring John Watts David Melillo Elizabeth Watson

Sharnelle Branyon CCS Allison Fulton Yalanda Callands

Eric Vingo Sarah Wofsy Christine Summers Molly Ashcroft

Yijia Marzella Cindy Everett-Simpson MATS Lauren Jolly

Martin Jackson CPRS Sarah Osborne David Ruutel

Abigail Rasmussen David Murphy Donald Johnson, Jr.

Betty Sa Dos Santos Joseph Criscuolo, Jr. SCCS

Patricia Reed Lisa Ferguson Dorothy Gay

Jamie Calvano Cori Wilkes SCPG

Darrell Coxson Brendan Stack Anne Becker

Muhktar Nalado Matthew Blomquist CIT

Benjamin Ward Paul Rogers Luke Anderson

Certification through the CCB provides verification of

your competency in in the area specified by your

credential and shows your commitment to the highest

ethical standards of practice. Many of you join over

50,000 others worldwide in this endeavor!

Special thanks to John Daviau

and the Connecticut

TTASC, Mountainside

and Turnbridge for

helping their respective

communities by encouraging

certification.