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Integrating Substance Abuse Treatment and Vocational Services- Center For Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series #38

The principals of CFF, Dr. Young, and Sid Gardner, were consensus panel chair and a workgroup leader in the development of this document. This TIP introduces vocational issues and concepts and describes how these services can be incorporated into substance abuse treatment. Vocational counseling is emphasized as a significant tool to be utilized in refocusing substance abusers toward employment, re-socialization and recovery. Major issues discussed in the TIP are challenges to employing clients in substance abuse treatment, the elements of vocational programming, such as assessment, prevocational services, training, and education, clinical concerns related to employment, on-site vocational services, effective collaborations and referrals, funding sources and strategies, policy and legal considerations, and special populations such as women and ex-offenders. The TIP is designed for substance abuse treatment providers, vocational rehabilitation and social service staff, with the goal of providing these workers with vocational service skills and to recognize clients who should be referred for professional vocational counseling.