Popularity plus planning equal major growth potential for chem dependency program

-- Jc Drobac

Metropolitan State University’s chemical dependency program has been at full capacity for the last two years, without mass marketing. And, its director, Bill Payne, speculates that the university might need to assume enrollment management if it is suddenly swamped with applicants, which could mean declining interest in the program due to a more difficult enrollment process.

Payne explains that Metropolitan State is the “only public institution that offers this specific degree in alcohol and drug counseling. The University of Minnesota has a program that’s buried in another major and doesn’t have the identity…isn’t as visible as this.”

Minnesota’s Department of Human Services (DHS) usually mandates licensure for the alcohol and drug counselors because counselors must first identify patients with mental disorders who show up in chemical dependency programs. The patient’s chemical dependency can be better treated once the patient is properly diagnosed.

Metropolitan State has a contract with the chemical health division of DHS that mandates training for all alcohol and drug counselors across the state. This was developed specifically so DHS could learn more about the co-occurrence of mental disorders and chemical dependency issues. Payne knows that this kind of successful networking is necessary to achieve results.

The university/DHS contract provides almost $6,000 of support. Training delivery won’t be complete until this September, and the outcome evaluation will follow in 2006. It includes 60 training deliveries, 1500 alcohol and drug counselors across the state, and 10 trainers to share the training needs.

Metropolitan State University’s program trains trainers, and monitors and evaluates the training. MCTC has partnered with the university to provide the logistics of the training, including food, classrooms and equipment.

A half-time advisor will be hired this summer to help with the overwhelming workload. A new faculty member will also be added to the program within a year, but only, jokes Payne, “as long as we don’t get ‘Pawlenty’d anymore,” referring to potential program cuts in the future.

Prairielands Addiction Technology Transfer Center

Another development is the Prairielands Addiction Technology Transfer Center, part of the Department of Human Services Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, which recently contracted to work together with Metropolitan State.

The Prairielands region consists of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska, with Iowa having the contract for the region and Minnesota subcontracting as Minnesota coordinator through the federal government.

Prairielands will fund half of the new advising position, with Metropolitan State contributing support for the other half.

This position and an educators’ regional conference in October will address concern by the federal government that those who practiced alcohol and drug counseling were operating too independently from researchers in chemical dependency. So efforts are being made to bridge the gap via more training opportunities through course work, online learning, conferences and more, says Payne.

The government will continue to allocate funds annually to the Prairielands project as long as it continues, he says.

Future Prospects

Though Payne is concerned about future budget cuts to these programs, he’s confident about their stability so far. Given the success of the major, and the support of the university, he sees it as giving strength to approach other foundations for help if necessary. “It creates a synergy to create other opportunities,” he says.

Payne would like to see Metropolitan State University’s chemical dependency program be identified “more as a center” in the next five years. “That’s what the university tends to do when they want to have greater identity for something.” Payne hopes for a master’s program too, but realizes there’s not a funding port right now for it. He says, “…but as we build one, this kind of energy and support—it just puts us closer to being able to do that.”

He would also like to see more gambling addiction counseling offered. “DHS could help support a minor in prevention of substance abuse, and they want a credential for counselors who work in integrated dual disorders treatment programs too,” he adds, “bringing mental health and chemical dependency a little bit closer together.”

“Metro’s never been shy to take risks and meet needs, and this is one that shows that. And for the college of professional studies, it’s about this relationship with the community, with the state, the feds, the internships—which is the workforce of today and tomorrow,” says Payne.

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