Suffolk County offers full scholarships for substance abuse counselor training
The Suffolk County Department of Health is making full scholarships available for Suffolk County residents who wish to obtain CASAC (NYS-Certified Substance Abuse Counselor) training through the Outreach Training Institute. Funding for the training has been made available from the first phase of the state’s Opioid Settlement Funds distributed to Suffolk County.
Two programs are being offered, one for initial certification (350 hours) and the other for current counselors seeking recertification (135 hours). The programs are delivered live, online, via a secure platform. The scholarships will cover the full cost of all coursework for recipients, valued at $5,950 per person.
In addition, 40 students will receive paid internships at Outreach, the substance abuse treatment provider with locations in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties, with each receiving a stipend of $1,500.
The Suffolk County Workforce Development Scholarships (SCWDS) scholarships will be targeted at individuals seeking to pursue their CASAC (Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor) certification and who have demonstrated an interest and passion for helping people in the Suffolk County community, including those who work in Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and Office of Mental Health (OMH) programs, people involved in volunteer work in their communities and/or individuals in recovery who provide peer-to-peer support to others.
To apply for the 350-hour program, click here. To apply for the 135-hour program, click here. For questions, please contact Anthony Pereira at [email protected] or Ashley Simon at [email protected]. For more information about Outreach, visit www.opiny.org.
