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Addictions & Community Health Professional
As an Addictions and Community Health Professional, you provide support in addiction recovery, mental health, and community outreach. Gain practical training in substance abuse counselling, recovery and rehabilitation support, and crisis intervention.
Credential
Diploma
Duration
44 weeks
Practicum
7 weeks
Employment Opportunities
- Addictions Support Worker
- Addictions Treatment Worker
- Youth Support Worker
- Family Support Worker
- Family-School Liaison Worker
- Child/Youth Care Worker
- Child & Youth Residential Facilities & Services
- Adult Care Worker
What You Could Earn
Up to $63,500
Benefits
Our Addictions course is eligible for Student Aid funding; other options available.
Our program is recognized and approved by the Canadian Addictions Counsellors Certification Federation.
Industry-experienced instructors bring firsthand knowledge from actual roles in their fields.
Certifications in CPR and First Aid prepare you to handle emergencies and provide immediate, lifesaving care with confidence and competence.
Start your Addictions & Community Health Professional diploma online. Access course materials anywhere at any time.
Gain real-world experience and training through practicum placements in community environments.
Benefit from lifetime access to our Career Services team for effective job search help and career advice.
We provide the tools you need to succeed in your program, including a new laptop you keep.
What to Expect From our Diploma in Addictions & Community Health Professional Program
Sundance College’s Addictions and Community Health course equips you with the career-focused skills, knowledge and experience needed to become a Community Service and Addictions Worker.
In just 44 weeks, our diploma program trains you in substance abuse, mental health support, community health services, and crisis intervention. Learn pharmacology, psychology of addiction, and interviewing and counselling strategies. Other key topics include relapse prevention and intervention, and family dynamics.
Our ACHP program is approved by the CACCF, the Canadian Addictions Counsellors Certification Federation.
As a skilled Addictions & Community Health Professional (ACHP) you can have a rewarding career in a wide range of community health settings whether social service agencies working with children, youth and families or programs for populations dealing with alcoholism, drug addiction, family violence and the aged.
Our program includes a 7-week practicum or practical work experience in a community mental health centre, social service or outreach agency, corrections facility, community health setting, or other human services agency, giving you real-world experience in providing support services for addiction recovery as well as community health services.
Program Overview: Addictions & Community Health Professional
Is a career as an Addictions & Community Health Professional right for you?
Take the Sundance College Career Training Readiness Quiz. The Career Quiz is a free tool that will help you identify goals, personal strengths and important facts about your potential career path so you can make an informed decision about your future. It takes just a few minutes!
Take Our Career QuizProgram Courses
Core
Addictions Awareness Today
You will analyze the current state of addictions in Canada, covering such topics as behavioural addictions, homelessness, family support resources, and harm reduction.
Gain a thorough understanding of contemporary addiction issues to effectively address and support the needs of those affected in your future career.
Addictions Fundamentals
This course provides students with comprehensive coverage of chemical and behavioural addictions. Specific substances studied will include: stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, opioids, cannabis, gambling, food, internet, shopping and sex. You will learn prevention techniques, harm reduction strategies, and treatment procedures, equipping you with the knowledge to effectively help those struggling with addiction in your future career
Ethics
This course outlines the in-depth counseling process with a focus on the counselor as a professional. Topics include: an introduction to the helping professions, working with difficult clients, values and diversity in counseling, ethical relationship issues, boundary issues, working with groups and families, community counseling, and crisis work.
This knowledge will prepare you to handle ethical challenges and maintain professional standards in your future career, ensuring you provide high-quality support to your clients.
Interviewing & Counselling Strategies
Develop essential skills to conduct successful interviewing, counselling and therapy for addictions. The course covers the importance of ethics, values, and self-awareness; the skills, processes, and pitfalls of counselling and compassionate care; and evidence-based treatment approaches for motivating clients.
Additionally, you will examine the Canadian health and social services structures, preparing you to navigate and excel in a Canadian counselling environment when working with those affected by addictions and mental health issues.
Relapse Prevention & Intervention
Explore the Relapse Prevention (RP) model to understand the conceptual and clinical features of the RP approach to altering excessive or addictive behaviour patterns.
Students will: analyze specific intervention techniques for both proactive and reactive intervention; learn about the importance of abstinence and opioid substitution programs; and explore other problems encountered in substance abuse rehabilitation. These skills will prepare you to effectively support clients in maintaining long-term recovery.
Group Facilitation Concepts
Learn the basic concepts and skills associated with facilitating support groups for addiction. This course covers the stages of groups, group processes, and therapeutic forces; the purpose of groups; the introduction, conducting, and process of exercises.
You will also learn how to engage group members in counseling and therapy sessions, preparing you for a role in group therapy for substance abuse and addiction services.
Pharmacology of Addiction
In this course, students will be introduced to the latest information on drug use and its effects on society and the individual. You will examine drugs from behavioral, pharmacological, historical, social, legal, and clinical perspectives, providing you with the ability to support and educate those affected by addiction.
Psychology of Addiction
Learn the fundamentals of psychology as it relates to your everyday lives, including the basics of neuroscience and behaviour, sensation and perception, motivation and emotion, and thinking and development.
This course also covers the basics of psychological disorders and their treatment, preparing you to understand and support individuals struggling with addiction.
Family Dynamics
Explore the risks and resilience of diverse family groups. The course introduces the family system as both a microsystem and a homeostatic system, helping you develop techniques for analyzing unhealthy family dynamics.
You will learn both conceptual and practical information on key issues and problems, preparing you to work with at-risk youth in families. Evaluate family roles, substance use disorders in the family, and learn family therapy techniques.
Intake Procedures & Treatment Planning
You will learn topics and processes related to intake, assessment, and factors affecting case management services. Practicing intake and assessment skills through role playing, feedback, and hands-on exercises will prepare you to effectively manage and support clients in your future career, ensuring they receive the best possible care and treatment.
High-Risk Populations
Students will develop the skills needed to support the most common high-risk populations dealing with mental health and addictions in Canada. This course covers how to facilitate cross-cultural counseling, support clients showing signs of substance misuse, and show respect when engaging them in different types of addiction treatments.
CPR, First Aid, WHMIS & FOIP
This course provides students with hands-on training in first aid. Topics include medical/legal aspects, spinal injuries, environmental emergencies, bone and joint injuries, abdominal and chest injuries, burns and respiratory emergencies and much more.
Foundation
Becoming a Master Student
This course helps students make the transition to post-secondary education and teaches them how to make the most of their chosen career education path as they prepare for the workforce. Topics include learning styles, goal setting, note-taking, and testing.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Learn the necessary proper speaking skills to deliver effective and professional oral presentations. Understand how to design effective visual aids and what to do before, during, and after a presentation by developing essential professional communication skills.
Career Management
Work hands-on to build the opportunity-finding skills needed in today’s job market. You will learn essential skills needed to be successful throughout the entire job application process and how to achieve gainful employment. You will plan, write, and complete a resume; search for employment; and develop your presentation skills.
Practicum
Your diploma program includes a 7-week practicum in a community mental health centre, social service or outreach agency, corrections facility or other human services agency. For students unable to complete a practicum (e.g., due to remote location), a capstone project will be offered as an alternative to fulfill the diploma requirements.
Admissions Steps
Whether you're just starting to explore or are ready to take the next step, we're here to help you navigate your journey. Get all the information you need to make an informed decision about your future.
Admissions RequirementsConnect with anAdmissions Advisor
Find Out What Our Students
Say About Us
The Addictions and Community Health program led to full-time employment before my practicum ended. Highly recommended for those seeking jobs in the industry.
Christopher W.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the role of an addictions and community health professional?
Addictions and Community Health Professionals provide counselling to support the emotional and mental health of vulnerable groups and populations.
How much does an addictions and community health professional make in Canada?
The salary of an Addictions and Community Services Worker in Canada will vary depending on factors such as location (province, city), experience, and employer. On average, they can earn between $46,051 and $63,500 a year.
What is the benefit of taking a college addictions and mental health program that is accredited by the Canadian Addictions Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF)?
The CACCF is the gold standard certification for addiction specific counsellors in Canada and internationally. It means that the college meets or exceeds the criteria and competencies required for its graduates to obtain both Canadian and International Certifications.
Are an addictions worker and a community health worker the same?
While both roles involve providing care and support to individuals, there are some differences. While Addiction Support Workers focus on addressing and treating substance use disorders and other addictions, Community Health or Community Service Workers promote public outreach and health programs for the overall community.
How do I become an addictions and community health worker in Canada?
To become an Addictions and Community Services Worker in Canada, you will need to complete a training program at a recognized college. The ACHP program should include a combination of theory and practical courses.
How do I balance my studies with my work and family commitments?
Many of our students and graduates have balanced their studies with work and family commitments. You will study only one course at a time instead of 4 or more. This allows you to immerse yourself and increase your knowledge retention and academic success.
For more tips on finding the right work-life balance during your Addictions and Community Health Professional diploma program, read our blog ‘Achieve Work-Life Balance: Tips from College Graduates’.
What jobs can I expect to get once I graduate from the Addictions program?
Graduates of our ACHP program can pursue healthcare careers as a care worker, support worker, women’s shelter worker, corrections facilities worker, social services worker, and more.
To learn more about your Addictions and Community Health career options, and what each of them entails, read our blog, ‘7 Key Career Options for Addictions and Community Health Professionals’.
I don’t have experience in the healthcare or addictions field. Can I take the Addictions and Community Health course?
Yes! Our course is designed for individuals with varying levels of experience.
Whether you’re looking to formalize your volunteer role into a career, move up in your current community health, community service, or addictions job or are brand new to the field, you’ll receive the comprehensive training and hands-on training you need for a successful career in a community health setting.