Aurora University Introduces Alcohol, Drug Counselor Training

AURORA, Ill.—Aurora University has launched a program to train students for the Illinois Professional Credential in Addictions: Certified Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC) certification test.

Fred McKenzie, dean of AU’s College of Professional Studies and director of the School of Social Work, said the new program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. About 25 undergraduate students have enrolled this fall.

To qualify for the certification test, students will complete four courses in a new addictions sequence and an internship at a local agency in the field of addictions.

Undergraduate students may take the addictions courses as part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in social work.

Additionally, students who have completed their bachelor’s degree in social work may take the addictions courses toward a credential that allows them to sit for the CADC exam.

McKenzie said AU’s School of Social Work was accredited in July by the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc., to offer the training program. The accreditation culminated a year of preparation.

McKenzie said, “Aurora University is proud to be one of the few colleges and universities in Illinois to become accredited through IAODAPCA to provide addictions training. We are now also one of only a few schools of social work to have that distinction.”

Currently, McKenzie said, graduate and undergraduate social work majors may sit for the CADC exam after they complete their addictions training at AU.

“This important credential greatly expands the marketability of our students. Also, the certification equips them for a much broader professional education within their respective disciplines,” he said.

“In the College of Professional Studies and across Aurora University,” McKenzie said, “we plan to explore other addictions-training opportunities with programs such as criminal justice, business, and psychology.

McKenzie announced that Rob Castillo of Geneva, assistant professor of social work, has been named addictions training director.

“Rob did a tremendous job in both developing this important new initiative, and accomplishing the IODAPCA accreditation. We are fortunate to have him spearheading this effort.”

For more information, call Castillo at (630) 844-4570.

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