Ala. Admin. Code r. 580-9-44-.02

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 7, April 30, 2024

Section 580-9-44-.02 - Personnel

(1) Qualified Treatment Personnel. The entity shall employ qualified and trained personnel to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of its clientele, and to support efficient utilization of its resources.

(a) The entity shall develop, maintain, and document implementation of written policies and procedures to ensure that all personnel meet and remain current on credentials required for certification, licensure, and for job performance and service delivery as specified by these rules.

(b) Qualified Substance Abuse Professionals (QSAP). The entity shall utilize qualified substance abuse professionals, to provide treatment for individuals with substance related disorders.

1. QSAP I. A Qualified Substance Abuse Professional I (QSAP I) shall consist of:

(i) An individual licensed in the State of Alabama as a:

(I) Professional Counselor, Graduate Level Social Worker, Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Marriage and Family Therapist, Clinical Psychologist, Physician's Assistant, Physician; or

(ii) An individual who:

(I) Has a master's degree or above from a nationally or regionally accredited university or college in psychology, social work, counseling, psychiatric nursing, or other behavioral health area with requisite course work equivalent to that of a degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or psychiatric nursing, and

(II) Has successfully completed a clinical practicum or has six month's post master's clinical experience; and

(III) Holds a substance abuse counselor certification credential from the Alabama Association of Addiction Counselors, National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, Alabama Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, or International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, Inc. which shall be obtained within thirty (30) months of date of hire.

(iii) A QSAP I is authorized to provide services as delineated in the most recent version of the ADMH Substance Abuse Services Billing Manual as published and maintained by ADMH.

2. QSAP II. A Qualified Substance Abuse Professional II (QSAP II) shall consist of:

(i) An individual who:

(I) Has a Bachelor's Degree from a nationally or regionally accredited university or college in psychology, social work, community, rehabilitation, or pastoral counseling, family therapy, or other behavioral health area that requires equivalent clinical course work, and

(II) Is licensed in the State of Alabama as a Bachelor Level Social Worker; or

(III) Has a Bachelor's Degree from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university in psychology, social work, community, rehabilitation, or pastoral counseling, family therapy, or other behavioral health area that requires equivalent clinical course work, and

(IV) Holds a substance abuse counselor certification credential from the Alabama Association of Addiction Counselors, National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, Alabama Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, or International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, or

(V) Has a bachelor's degree from a nationally or regionally accredited university or college in psychology, social work, community rehabilitation, pastoral counseling, family therapy, or other behavioral health area that requires equivalent clinical course work and

(VI) Obtains a substance use counselor certification credential from the Alabama Association of Addition Counselors, National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, Alabama Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, or International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium within 30 months of hire and

(VII) Participates in ongoing weekly supervision from an assigned QSAP I that is documented and appropriately filed in their personnel record for auditing purposes until counselor certification is obtained.

(ii) A QSAP II is authorized to provide services as delineated in the most recent version of the ADMH Substance Abuse Services Billing Manual as published and maintained by ADMH.

3. QSAP III. A Qualified Substance Abuse Professional III (QSAP III) shall consist of:

(i) An individual who:

(II) Participates in ongoing supervision by a certified or licensed QSAP I for a minimum of one (1) hour individual per week until attainment of a substance abuse counselor certification credential from the Alabama Association of Addiction Counselors, National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, or Alabama Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, or International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, Inc. which shall be obtained within thirty (30) months of hire.

(ii) A QSAP III is authorized to provide services as delineated in the most recent version of the ADMH Substance Abuse Services Billing Manual as published and maintained by ADMH.

4. Qualified Paraprofessionals(QPP). A qualified paraprofessional shall have the following minimum qualifications:

(i) A high school diploma or equivalent, and

(ii) One (1) year of work experience directly related to job responsibilities and

(iii) Concurrent participation in clinical supervision by a licensed or certified QSAP I.

(iv) A QPP is authorized to provide services as delineated in the most recent version of the ADMH Substance Abuse Services Billing Manual as published and maintained by ADMH.

5. Peer Support Specialist. A peer support specialist must meet the following minimum qualifications:

(i) Certified by ADMH as a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) within six (6) months of date of hire, and

(ii) Concurrent participation in clinical supervision by a licensed or certified QSAP I.

(iii) A Peer Support Specialist is authorized to provide services as delineated in the most recent edition of the ADMH Substance Abuse Services Billing Manual as published and maintained by ADMH.

6. Students who are completing a graduate degree from a regionally accredited university or college in psychology, counseling, social work, or psychiatric nursing may conduct direct services under the following conditions:

(i) The student is in a clinical practicum that is part of an officially sanctioned academic curriculum.

(ii) The student receives a minimum of one (1) hour per week of direct clinical supervision (face to face) from a licensed or certified QSAP I.

(iii) Any written clinical documentation generated by the student must be reviewed and signed by the supervising clinical staff member.

(2) Staff Development. The entity shall develop, maintain, and document implementation of written policies and procedures that establish a staff development and training program for all employees, students, and volunteers. This program shall include, at a minimum, the following requirements:

(a) Annual Training: During each calendar year, the entity shall provide training for each employee that addresses the following topics:

1. Crisis intervention.

2. Management of disruptive behavior.

3. Suicide prevention/intervention.

4. Confidentiality and privacy of client information.

5. Cultural competency relative to the program's target population.

6. Infectious disease prevention and management, to include at a minimum: TB, HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Hepatitis.

7. Program policies and procedures.

8. ADMH Administrative Code specific to level(s) of care.

(b) First Aid/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training. All staff of each substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery support program shall obtain, within one (1) month of hire, and continuously, thereafter, current certification in First Aid and CPR.

(3) An individual who met the requirements of the Administrative Code 580-9-44-2 Personnel effective March 2012 and was employed prior to the approval of these rules shall be in good standing.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 580-9-44-.02

New: Filed: July 22, 1992. Extended: September 30, 1992. Extended: December 31, 1992. Certified: March 30, 1993. Effective: May 5, 1993. Repealed and New Rule: Filed January 26, 2012; effective March 1, 2012.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVI, Issue No. 04, January 31, 2018, eff. 2/22/2018.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVII, Issue No. 01, October 31, 2018, eff. 11/30/2018.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XLI, Issue No. 04, January 31, 2023, eff. 3/17/2023.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XLI, Issue No. 07, April 28, 2023, eff. 6/12/2023.

Author: Substance Abuse Services Division

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 22-50-11.