Internship Opportunities in Addiction Studies
The Addiction Studies Program at Suffolk County Community College offers internship opportunities so that students can gain valuable field experience while learning.
Must Apply for your CRPA-Provisional before start of ADS 113.
Upon completion of CRPA Training – ADS 112, candidates are eligible and must apply for CRPA-Provisional, providing they meet the other requirements for professional certification. (18+ years of age, High School Diploma, GED or equivalent or higher, 30 hours approved training plus 16 hours ethics plus affirmation of NYCB Code of Ethnical Conduct -ADS 112). The Certification Board is using Certemy to process and track applications. To apply for your CRPA-P use the Certemy login https://asap.certemy.com/entry/login. ADS 112 is a prerequisite course for the ADS 113 CRPA internship course.
When do I begin to look for my field placement site?
Over the break from classes, so you are ready to begin work at the start of the next semester.
How many work hours and classroom hours are required for the course?
ADS 113 provides students with a total of 120 clock hours of field work and 30 hours of classroom seminar supervision.
Who supervises me at the Internship Agency?
The supervisor is an employee of the agency. This person must be a “qualified health professional,” preferably someone who has been trained in Peer Recovery Advocacy. The supervisor must agree to spend consistent scheduled time with the intern and the supervisor maintains contact with ADS 113 CRPA internship course instructor.
What is the ADS 113 Seminar?
The seminar meets once each week for 50 minutes at the college. It is here that students, as a group, discuss their week’s fieldwork experience, resolve problems, get supervision by the college (in the form of direct instruction, discussion, and case presentations), learn advanced CRPA theory and techniques and prepare for employment. It is a vital and required part of the experience.
Steps to secure the field placement:
- Prepare a résumé summarizing your background, education, and experience. Note that you are a student in the SCCC ADS Program and have completed your CRPA training. Use the SCCC job search success office for help with writing a résumé and preparing for an interview. The office is located in Caumsett Hall Room 220 Careerservices-west@sunysuffolk.edu (631) 851-6876.
- Call at least 2 agencies from the Internship Agencies list posted on the SCCC Addiction Studies webpage: https://www.sunysuffolk.edu/explore-academics/majors-and-programs/addiction-studies/internships.jsp. It is strongly recommended that you do not try to apply for an internship in a program where you were once a client/patient within the past 10 years.
- State you are a student in the SCCC ADS program and have completed your CRPA training and would like to make an appointment for an internship interview. Let them know when you are seeking to start your field placement (the semester of ADS 113 course). Follow direction to send a résumé, usually via e-mail. If they say they are not taking interns, please send an e-mail to Professor William Rule at rulew@sunysuffolk.edu to let him know. Some agencies may not be accepting interns if they are experiencing a high staff turnover. Don't take it personally.
- The internship interview is just like a job interview. You have the flexibility to create the work hours that are best for you and for the agency. Generally, a student should plan to be working 8 hours a week for 15 weeks to complete their work hours by the end of the semester. Try to be sure you get the chance to attend treatment team meetings as part of your fieldwork experience.
- If you are offered an internship during the interview, you are free to accept a placement, but you must send Professor Kathleen Flynn-Bisson an e-mail to let her know when and where you will work.
- You will need to follow the agency's human resources requirements, including health information and a background check before you can be approved to begin your field placement work. That is why it is best to start the process early as this can sometimes take several weeks to complete..
When do I begin to look for my field placement site?
Students seeking to do their field placement during the Fall Semester should begin to look for a placement in the previous Spring semester and actual field work can begin as early as August 1st. Students seeking to do their field placement during the Spring Semester should start looking for a placement in the previous Fall semester and actual field work can begin as early as the last week in December.
How many work hours and classroom hours are required for the course?
The course provides students with a total of 270 clock hours of Field work and 30 hours of classroom seminar supervision, which meets the requirements set forth by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Support. Both the internship site and the college will verify your completion of this internship for your application to OASAS for the CASAC-T.
Who supervises me at the Internship Agency?
The supervisor is an employee of the agency. This person must be a “qualified health professional” according to SCCC and OASAS regulations. It can be a CASAC.
The supervisor must agree to spend consistent scheduled time with the intern and the supervisor maintains contact with the SCCC Addiction Studies Program Coordinator and/or ADS 255 course instructor.
What is the Seminar?
The seminar meets once each week for 1 hour and 50 minutes at the college. It is here that students, as a group, discuss their week’s fieldwork experience, resolve problems, get supervision by the college (in the form of direct instruction, discussion, and case presentations), learn advanced theory and techniques in CD counseling, and prepare for employment and/or college transfer. It is a vital and required part of the experience.
Steps to secure the field placement:
- Prepare a resume summarizing your background, education and experience. Note that you are a student in the SCCC ADS Program and the date that you expect to complete the OASAS approved education requirements to become a CASAC-T. Use the SCCC job search success office for help with writing a resume and preparing for an interview. The office is located in Nesconset Hall, Suite One. Careerservices-west@sunysuffolk.edu (631) 851-6876
- Call at least 2 agencies from the list provided by the Program Coordinator – one inpatient/residential and one outpatient program. It is strongly recommended that you do not try to apply for an internship in a program where you were once a client/patient within the past 10 years.
- State you are a student at SCCC ADS Program (formerly known as the CDC Program) and would like to make an appointment for an internship interview. Let them know when you are seeking to start your field placement (either the Fall or Spring semester). If they say they are not taking interns send an e-mail to Professor William Rule at rulew@sunysuffolk.edu to let her know. Some agencies may not be accepting interns if they are experiencing a high staff turnover. Don't take it personally. Follow direction to send a resume, usually via e-mail.
- The internship interview is just like a job interview. You have the flexibility to create the work hours that are best for you and for the agency. Generally a student should plan to be working 18 hours a week for 15 weeks if they only do their field work during the school semester weeks. We allow you to start early so you can have some flexibility around the hours you work per week. Try to be sure you get the chance to attend case conference meetings as part of your field experience.
- If you are offered an internship during the interview you are free to accept a placement, but you must send William Rule an e-mail to let her know when and where you will work. If you agree to accept a placement complete the “Internship Agency Acceptance Form” with the fieldsite supervisor, have it signed by the supervisor and agency Director and return the signed copy of this form to your SCCC ADS 255 course instructor as soon as it is completed. You will also be providing your fieldsite supervisor with your SCCC completed monthly time sheets, a midpoint evaluation and a final evaluation form for them to sign. You will also sign these documents to submit to your ADS 255 course instructor.
- Please note: You will need to follow the field site agency’s human resources requirements, including health information and a background check before you can be approved to begin your field placement work. That is why it is best to start the process early as this can sometimes take several weeks to complete.