Diploma Program
Addictions Worker 400

Diploma Program Overview
The Addictions Worker program at SELC College offers students an opportunity to learn the vital skills necessary to support individuals struggling with addiction issues. Students will utilize their knowledge of issues pertaining to homelessness, addictions, mental health, women with children, domestic violence/abuse, and to act as a client advocate who provides emotional support.
A capacity to communicate and uphold clients’ rules, duties, and regulations in a polite but assertive manner is a major focus of this program. Our program supports a strength-based and harm reduction philosophy of intervention. As such, students will learn how to utilize the different harm reduction techniques in specialized contexts. Client self-determination is at the core of this program, and students will be demonstrating this philosophy during their practical work experience component of the program.
Addictions Worker Career Occupation
- shelters
- safe house
- recovery facilities
- detox
- mental health and addiction facilities
- tenant support workers
- youth in addictions agencies
- advocacy groups,
- Case Worker/Manager
- therapeutic recreational facilities
- community food and housing, hospitals
- mental health support agencies
Learning Objectives
Demonstrate the skills needed to support clients with multiple barriers and co-morbid diagnoses in a variety of contexts.
Administer and implement a variety of social assistance programs and community services specializing in addictions.
Assist clients in addressing personal and social problems with a focus on psychosocial rehabilitation and client self-determination.
Use psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery principles to support people living with mental health and substance use challenges to live the life they envision for themselves.
Use NVCI (non-violent crisis intervention) techniques appropriately and effectively.
Utilize supportive counselling techniques for individual, family, and group settings.
Discuss the impacts of historic and systemic oppression.
Describe Indigenous health models and perspectives on healing and trauma.
Operate within a trauma-informed practice setting.
Empathically communicate to clients in all exchanges, and effectively work in group situations and team-based settings.
Effectively and always demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Students require ONE of the following:
- IELTS: 6
- Duolingo: 95
- TOEIC: 700
- TOEFL (Paper): 537
- TOEFL (IBT): 75
- Cambridge : FCE
- CELPIP : 7
- Cael: 50
Students require ALL of the following:
Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency for domestic students
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and completion of high school studies and/or commencement of post-secondary studies OR have achieved MATURE STUDENT STATUS: 19 years of age, out of secondary school for a minimum of 1 year with program industry experience minimum of 100 hours
Criminal Record check required for Work Experience
2 Year Sobriety Declaration
About This Program
Program Duration
- Total Program Hours: 1360 Hours (680 instructional hours + 680 Co-op hours)
- Total program Length: 66 Weeks (32 instructional weeks + 34 Co-op weeks)
- Co-op 680 hours
(Excludes holidays, breaks and professional days)
QUICK LINKS
Courses
Student Success Strategies (40 Hours)
Basic Computing for Human Service Workers (40 Hours)
Professional Communications for Addiction Workers (40 Hours)
Developmental Psychology I (40 Hours)
Developmental Psychology II (40 Hours)
Abnormal Psychology (40 Hours)
Theories of Addiction: A Sociological Perspective (40 Hours)
Addiction and Intimate Partner Violence (40 Hours)
Co-Morbidity: Mental Health & Addiction (40 Hours)
Trauma Informed Practice (40 Hours)
Harm Reduction Approaches to Rehabilitation (40 Hours)
Relapse Prevention & Crisis Management (40 Hours)
Pharmacology & Medication Management (40 Hours)
Intake & Assessment (40 Hours)
Professional Ethics for Addiction Workers (40 Hours)
Indigenous Approaches to Healing (40 Hours)
Career Success I (done during the program - 40 Hours)
Co-op (680 Hours)
Additional Courses & Certifications
Emergency First Aid & CPR C (equivalent to OFA Level 1)
WHMIS Online Certification
Food Safe Level 1
Non-violent Crisis Intervention Certification
ASIST Suicide Prevention Training Certification