21 NCAC 68 .0101. DEFINITIONS

As used in the General Statutes or this Chapter, the following terms have the following meaning:

(1)           "Applicant" means a person who submits documentation seeking Board status for registration or certification.

(2)           "Application packet" means a set of instructions and forms required by the Board for registration.

(3)           "Approved supervisor " means a person who watches and directs the activities of a substance abuse professional in the role of an applicant supervisor or a practice supervisor as set out in G.S. 90-113.31A.  This is a person who fulfills or is in the process of fulfilling the requirements for this Board designation of approved supervisor pursuant to Rule .0211 of this Chapter by completing its academic, didactic and experiential requirements.

(4)           "Assessment" means identifying and evaluating an individual's strengths, weaknesses, problems, and needs for the development of a treatment or service plan for a substance use disorder.

(5)           "Clinical supervison" means clinical oversight required for all credentials with a minimum of 50 percent clinical supervision that shall accrue in person and face-to-face while in the same room whereas the balance of this requirement may be fulfilled electronically via video, face-to-face, if performed in real time.

(6)           "Clinical supervision specific education" means training that covers the aspects of clinical supervision of a substance abuse professional or any of the 12 core functions in their clinical application.

(7)           "Client" means an individual who is in receipt of substance abuse counseling.

(8)           "Complainant" means a person who has filed a complaint pursuant to these Rules.

(9)           "Consultation" means a meeting for discussion, decision-making, and planning with other service providers for the purpose of providing substance abuse services.

(10)         "Crisis" means a decisive event in the course of treatment related to alcohol or drug use that threatens to compromise or destroy the rehabilitation effort.

(11)         "Deemed status group" means those persons who are credentialed as clinical addictions specialists because of their membership in a deemed status discipline.

(12)         "Education" means a service that is designed to inform and teach various groups including clients, families, schools, businesses, churches, industries, civic, and other community groups about the nature of substance abuse disorders and about available community resources.  It also serves to improve the social functioning of recipients by increasing awareness of human behavior and providing alternative cognitive or behavioral responses to life's problems.

(13)         "Full time" means 2,000 hours per year.

(14)         "General professional skill building" means education provided to enhance the general skills of a substance abuse professional.

(15)         "Hearing panel" means members of a committee designated by the chairperson of the committee to conduct an informal hearing to determine that the applicant meets the standards required to be maintained for or awarded a credential.

(16)         "Impairment" means a mental illness, substance abuse or chemical dependency, physical illness, or aging problem.

(17)         "Letter of reference" means a letter that recommends a person for certification.

(18)         "Membership in good standing" means a member's certification is not in a state of revocation, lapse, or suspension.  However, an individual whose certification is suspended and the suspension is stayed is a member in good standing during the period of the stay.

(19)         "Passing score" means the score set by the entity administering the exam.

(20)         "Person served" means an individual who is not a client but is in receipt of substance abuse prevention counseling.

(21)         "Personal service" means the actual delivery of a document into the hands of the person to whom it is addressed.

(22)         "President" means the President of the Board.

(23)         "Prevention consultation " means a service provided to other mental health, human service, and community planning/development organizations or to individual practitioners in other organizations to assist in the development of insights and skills of the practitioner necessary for prevention.

(24)         "Prevention performance domains" means areas of professional activities to include:

(a)           planning and evaluations;

(b)           education and skill development;

(c)           community organization;

(d)           public and organizational policy; and

(e)           professional growth and responsibility.

(25)         "Referral" means identifying the needs of an individual that cannot be met by the counselor or agency and assisting the individual in utilizing the support systems and community resources available.

(26)         "Rehabilitation" means re-establishing the functioning needed for professional competency.

(27)         "Reinstatement" means an action where the Board restores certification or registration to an applicant after the applicant completes the requirements imposed by the Board.

(28)         "Relapse" means a return to the pattern of substance abuse as well as the process during which indicators appear prior to the person's return to the pattern of substance abuse or a re-appearance or exacerbation of physical, psychological,  or emotional symptoms of impairment.

(29)         "Renewal" means an action by the Board granting a substance abuse professional a consecutive certification or registration based upon the completion of requirements for renewal as prescribed by statute and the rules of the Board.

(30)         "Revival" means an action by the Board granting a substance abuse professional a certification or registration following a lapse of certification or registration wherein the professional must also meet the requirements for renewal.

(31)         "Reprimand" means a written warning from the Board to a person making application for certification by the Board or certified by the Board.

(32)         "Respondent" means a person who is making application for certification by the Board or is certified by the Board against whom a complaint has been filed.

(33)         "Sexual activity" or "sexual contact" means:

(a)           Contact between the penis and the vulva or the penis and the anus;

(b)           Contact between the mouth and the penis, the mouth and the vulva, or the mouth and the anus; or

(c)           The penetration, however slight, of the anal or genital opening of another by a hand,  finger, or any object with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, arouse, or gratify the sexual desire of any person.

(d)           Vaginal intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, or anal intercourse, if initiated, agreed to, or not resisted by the substance abuse professional; or

(e)           Kissing or the intentional touching of the other's lips, genital area, groin, inner thigh, buttocks, breasts, or any other body parts, as well as the clothing covering any of these body parts for the purpose of sexual stimulation or gratification of either the substance abuse professional or the client if initiated or agreed to or not resisted by the substance abuse professional.

(34)         "Substance abuse counseling experience " means approved supervised experience that may be full-time, part-time, paid or voluntary, and must include all of the 12 core functions (Rule .0204 of this Chapter) as documented by a job description and supervisors evaluation.

(35)         "Substance abuse prevention consultant experience" means approved supervised experience that may be full-time, part-time, paid or voluntary, and must include all of the prevention domains referenced by Rule .0206 of this Chapter and as documented by a job description and supervisor's evaluation.

(36)         "Substance abuse specific" means education focused upon alcohol and other drugs and the substance abusing population and is provided for a substance abuse professional by one whose education and experience is in the field of alcohol and other drugs.

(37)         "Supervised practice" means supervision of the applicant in the knowledge and skills related to substance abuse professionals.

(38)         "Supervisor of record" means the substance abuse professional primarily responsible for providing applicant or practice supervision to a supervisee.

(39)         "Suspension" means a loss of certification or the privilege of making application for certification.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-113.30; 90-113.33; 90-113.40; 90-113.41; 90-113.41A;

Eff. August 1, 1996;

Temporary Amendment Eff. November 15, 1997;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2014; June 1, 2011; April 1, 2011; April 1, 2003; August 1, 2002; April 1, 2001; August 1, 2000; August 1, 1998.