P.R. Laws tit. 24, § 10062
The Commission shall issue a certification to practice the profession of psychoactive substance use prevention assistant or specialist to all candidates who meet the following requirements:
(1) Knowledge in psychoactive substance use/abuse. — To be knowledgeable in the different psychoactive substances, their effects and consequences on physiological, psychological, behavioral and cognitive functions of individuals.
(2) Evaluation. — To be knowledgeable and to use evaluation methods as applicable under the parameters established through regulations, and to implement them adequately in their job.
(3) Necessity assessment. — To recognize and use the most adequate strategies to conduct necessity studies and assessments.
(4) Program development. — To consider and recognize that persons participating in their programs have their dignity and potential, and therefore, to seek to make them participants in and integrate them into the program planning, implementation and evaluation processes.
(5) Community resource identification. — To be knowledgeable as to the resources available in the community and the procedure to access the same.
(6) Educational communication. — To be able to effectively communicate prevention concepts and ideas orally, in writing, or using signs and symbols. To encourage mass, group and interpersonal communication activities on psychoactive substance use prevention to be made an integral part of health education and of developing healthy drug-free lifestyles.
(7) Program implementation. — To carry out prevention activities or to promote the development of skills by using diverse strategies pursuant to the goals and needs of participants.
(8) Public communication. — To collaborate with the public broadcasting media, in order to guarantee objective and appropriate information, in the design, execution and evaluation of campaigns aimed to raising community sensitivity.
(9) Document/record management. — To appropriately manage participant and program-related documents while observing confidentiality procedures pursuant to the pertinent laws and regulations.
(10) Collaborative liaisons. — To establish collaboration relations locally, island-wide, and internationally with providers, colleague professionals or organizations, in order to share prevention techniques and achievements, and to identify new ideas for programs.
(11) Consultantship. — To clarify matters or to provide specific information, alternatives or recommendations to individuals, enterprises, schools, community-based organizations, organizations in general, or groups regarding the prevention efforts being conducted in said context. To provide technical assistance in order to propitiate an understanding of the implications of prevention and the development of prevention-related goals.
(12) Early intervention and referral. — To identify environmental, physiological, attitude or behavioral patterns that are indicators of the potential for the unlawful or harmful use of psychoactive substances. To implement recommended prevention strategies to offset risk factors and to facilitate the change to a healthy lifestyle. To identify the treatment needs of individuals with a chemical dependency and to facilitate their referral.
(13) Ethical professional responsibility. — To exhibit a professional and ethical conduct.
(14) Personal and professional development. — To recognize their values and attitudes, as well as their strengths and competency areas in order to improve both as persons and as professionals.
(15) Legal aspects. — To show to be knowledgeable in the legal aspects and the rights of individuals as they apply in their work setting. To take into account diversity factors such as race, gender, culture, and morals, when developing prevention activities.
All persons interested in applying for certification shall show proof of their competencies, regardless of their academic degree and experience in the field of prevention.
Certification levels shall be established on the basis of the applicants’ competencies, command, education, and years of experience providing, designing and/or directing prevention services. Certification level requirements shall be established in the Regulations of the Commission. The Commission shall have the authority to recommend to applicants any necessary action to fulfill their competency requirements.
History —Sept. 16, 2004, No. 369, § 13, eff. 90 days after Sept. 16, 2004.