Public Employee Press

Drug counselors finish tough training

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

Standing proudly on the front lines of the never-ending battle to save public school students from drug and alcohol abuse are Local 372’s hardworking Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialists. They are responsible for educating the 1.2 million youths and children in the city school system about the perils of drug and alcohol addiction.

The SAPIS know that to do their best work it’s critical to continue their own education in the field of prevention. That is why 19 of them graduated on Oct. 26 from the rigorous 17-month Alcoholism/Substance Abuse Counseling Program, which was recently offered for the first time at District Council 37. The DC 37 Education Fund, Long Island University and Local 372 partnered in offering the course, which was free for the members of the local.

“We’re thrilled that this was put together with the Education Fund and LIU,” said Local 372 Vice President Santos Crespo, “especially since Local 372 was instrumental in establishing this title.”

On Oct. 26, the students who completed the course gathered at DC 37 to receive their well-earned certificates. “I congratulate you for not being afraid of hard work,” said Barbara Kairson, DC 37 Education Fund administrator, in her welcoming remarks.

“It was a very intense course,” said Lorraine Smith, a SAPIS who works at P.S. 58 in Queens, “I thought about dropping out of the program a couple of times.”

Graduate Richard SiFuentes, a 22-year veteran who works at P.S. 19 on the Lower East Side, said he “found the course to be very rewarding and the teachers were excellent.”

Members eligible for state test
The course includes classes on treating special populations, case management and the effects of chemical dependency on the family. The textbooks would cost each student up to $700; however, Local 372 and the Education Fund provided the books free of charge. For new graduate Tommy Abney, “That was major. We made a commitment to the union to work hard so we could do a better job for the students, and the union made a commitment to us.”

Rufino Peraza, who works at George Westinghouse High School, was looking around the city to find out where he could take the course when he heard that theDC 37 Education Fund was offering it.

“I had to be put on a waiting list,” said Peraza, whose wife accompanied him to the ceremony. “But then they called me and told me that there was a spot for me. I was really happy about that.”

In addition to improving their on-the-job skills, the members who completed the course are now eligible for the state’s credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor certification test.

“We couldn’t have accomplished this without the wonderful staff at Long Island University and the DC 37 Education Fund,” said DC 37 Director of Field Operations Barbara Ingram-Edmonds at the graduation ceremony. “And I’m sure our members will continue their hard work on behalf of the city’s schoolchildren.”

Members of Local 372 who would like to register for the next course should contact the Education Fund at 212-815-1700 for more information.