alcohol and other drug problems among addiction professionals

10. Training and Mentoring: Organizations should provide training programs forstaff, administration, managers, supervisors, and line staff, with a strong focusupon orienting new employees so they can rapidly become effective in theirjobs. These processes should become standardized on the agency level consistentwith federal, state, and local laws and agency policies. Organizationsshould provide on-the-job training and mentoring programs to help peopleacquire the competencies necessary to do their jobs. Training is an ongoingessential because of the rapid change in environment and the need to addressboth “uncomplicated” addiction and addiction complicated by coexisting mentalhealth disorders, legal problems, and social problems.◆Standardized Training Modules: This participant opted to developstandardized training modules that will clearly define goals and objectives.These modules will focus on employee competence and improvement ofperformance levels. Elements will include clear definition of training goalsand desired outcomes, and effective measuring of training outcomes usingpre- and post-testing and evaluations. The participant will then teach aclass following these modules.11. Wellness: Organizations should develop wellness programs and practices totake care of employees, and provide effective supervision policies and practicesthat consider the wellness of the employees. These should include specificscheduled activities, including such things as retreats for the purpose of rejuvenationand burn-out prevention, peer support and mentoring practices, and“growth groups” to enhance professional development. These groups would beaimed at self-awareness and “spirituality recharge.”◆◆Core Need Training and Wellness White Paper and Program:This participant’s project will be a white paper on core need training andwellness. Its goal will be to expand a module that the participant has developed,with an exploration of new venues for expansion of this model.It will document key elements of success in mentoring programs to-date.The participant will also begin at least one new program based on thiswhite paper.Self-Assessment Profile: This profile will be designed to help employeesunderstand themselves, their assets, and their self-care needs,to encourage and facilitate greater wellness and more effective self-care.It will include a focus on knowledge of their own and others’ self-managementstyles, enhancement of personal and professional interpersonalskills, and improved connections among people. This project will also exploreareas and methods of change, and encourage employees to practicenew methods of improving their skills. It will provide suggestions for elimi-n 52 n