LAC LA BICHE – Beginning this fall, people with a desire to help those battling addiction will be able to receive the training and skills needed to work in the field through a new addictions counselling diploma program at Portage College.
The program will be taught at Portage College’s Lac La Biche campus.
Lyla Allan, who is the coordinator for the Portage College community social work program, said the diploma program will provide theory as well as practical learning to assist individuals needing supports.
“The Addiction Counselling program at Portage College is an exciting opportunity for those that are interested in working in the addictions field,” Allan stated.
According to information from Portage College, the addictions counselling program will provide learners with training in important areas such as psychiatric nursing, psychology, social work, child and youth care, as well as addiction counselling.
The program, which was granted approval on April 11, was made possible by funding from the Alberta government’s Mental Health Professions Enrollment Expansion grant program.
“This funding is part of a provincial investment aimed at creating new spaces in mental health-related programs across Alberta’s post-secondary institutions,” according to Portage College.
By investing in expanding the number of mental health-related programs across Alberta, the provincial government is ensuring that communities have a strong, capable workforce to meet their mental health needs for years to come, said Alberta’s Minister of Advanced Education Rajan Sawhney.
“Increasing the number of trained mental health professionals in our province will directly benefit families and vulnerable Albertans by making critical mental health services more accessible,” Sawhney stated.
Nancy Broadbent, the president and CEO of Portage College, praised the new addictions counselling program.
“The need for more addictions counsellors in northeast Alberta is something that I have been hearing loud and clear from the partners in our region,” Broadbent said. “I am very proud of the work done by our faculty on the program’s development and grateful to the Government of Alberta for supporting its launch.”
Dr. Donna Feledichuk, Portage College’s vice president of academics and research, said the college has heard from its stakeholders regarding the pressing need for this program in the region.
“We are grateful to the Government of Alberta for providing the necessary funding, which allows us to meet the needs of the communities we serve,” said Feledichuk.
