N.J. Admin. Code § 8:111-1.9

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 12, June 17, 2024

Section 8:111-1.9 - Qualifications and responsibilities of the substance abuse counseling staff

(a) Every facility shall ensure that the ratios of substance abuse counseling staff are maintained so that 50 percent of the staff are LCADC or CADC or other licensed clinical professionals doing work of an alcohol and drug counseling nature within their scope of practice by July 15, 2016 and at all times thereafter. The remaining 50 percent of substance abuse counseling staff shall be designated as alcohol and drug counseling-interns or credentialed-interns (formerly referred to as "substance abuse counselors in training") who are actively working toward their LCADC or CADC status, or toward another New Jersey clinical license that includes work of an alcohol and drug counseling nature within its scope of practice. Counselor-interns may be actively working toward their LCADC or CADC status for no more than three years. The director of substance abuse counseling must maintain an active client caseload if the director of substance abuse counseling is to be counted in the above ratios.

1. Each substance abuse counselor shall be either an LCADC or CADC or another licensed health professional doing work of an alcohol and drug counseling nature within their scope of practice.

i. A CADC must work under the supervision of an LCADC or another New Jersey licensed clinical professional designated as a qualified clinical supervisor per 13:34C-6.2.

ii. A CADC cannot diagnose substance abuse.

2. Substance abuse counseling staff without an LCADC or CADC status or who do not possess another New Jersey clinical professional license that includes work of an alcohol or drug counseling nature within their scope of practice shall function as alcohol and drug counselor-interns or credential-interns and shall:

i. Be enrolled in a course of study leading to a CADC or LCADC, or another New Jersey clinical professional license that includes work of an alcohol and drug counseling nature within its scope of practice, without regard to changes in employment, with progress towards certification or licensing on file, reviewed by the facility at least semi-annually and documented; and

ii. Be trained, evaluated and receive continuing formal clinical supervision by the director of substance abuse counseling or designee, pursuant to the clinical supervision rules of the State health professional licensing board for the course of study in which they are enrolled:

(1) The State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners' for licensed marriage and family therapists;

(2) The State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners' Professional Counselor Examiners Committee for licensed professional counselors and licensed associate counselors;

(3) The State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee for LCADCs and CADCs;

(4) The State Board of Psychological Examiners for licensed psychologists; and

(5) The State Board of Social Work Examiners for licensed clinical social workers and licensed social workers.

(b) Counseling staff employed in a residential substance use disorders treatment facility subsequent to July 15, 2013 shall have three years from the date of employment to become certified as an LCADC or CADC, or another clinical licensed professional that includes the work of an alcohol and drug counseling nature within its scope of practice.

(c) Only staff possessing the appropriate clinical background and educational qualifications from the appropriate clinical discipline may provide the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of clients with co-occurring disorders.

(d) Each substance abuse counselor shall be responsible for the following:

1. Assessing the counseling needs of the clients;

2. Assessing clients using the ASI or using other standardized assessment tool and diagnosing clients for substance disorders using the DSM;

3. Determining the appropriate level of care based on ASAM PPC;

4. Obtaining previous records that are relevant to the current treatment episode;

5. Collaborating with the client in order to develop a written treatment plan that is client-centered and recovery oriented and includes goals and measurable objectives.

i. The director of substance abuse counseling shall develop, monitor and provide clients and the treatment team with written schedules that will be used to update each client treatment plan(s) in order to ensure that each client's treatment needs are addressed;

6. Providing the substance abuse counseling services specified in the client treatment plan;

7. Reviewing clients throughout the treatment episode according to ASAM PPC, to determine the need for continued services or discharge/transfer;

8. Reviewing and, where necessary, revising the substance abuse counseling portion of the client treatment plan to address emerging problems;

9. Developing the client discharge/transfer plans to ensure movement to the appropriate levels of care;

10. Contacting referral sources, providing case consultation, and coordination with referral sources (for example: mental health treatment providers, criminal justice agencies, schools, employers, the Department of Children and Families);

11. Participating as a member of a multidisciplinary team for assigned clients;

12. Providing active case consultation; and

13. Documenting all counseling and education services, assessments, reassessments, referrals and follow-up in the client's clinical record, providing appropriate signatures and dating of such entries, including those made in electronic records.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:111-1.9

Amended and recodified from 10:161A-1.9 53 N.J.R. 2208(a), effective 12/20/2021