Wednesday, Oui? aGAIN?

So many "Oui's" so little time! This "Wednesday, Oui?" is going to be about my career.

I have a very difficult job with an ambiguous success rate. What is success in terms of addiction? Smoking less weed, not shooting heroin, only drinking on the weekends instead of everyday? Never-the-less, there are measurable victories.

Today, a personal success. I was certified as a GAIN administrator (Global Appraisal of Individual Needs). The GAIN tool is a comprehensive, empirically based, widely used assessment. I went to a week long training in October and had to submit taped sessions of myself administering this tool in real client settings. Today, this is the feedback I got from my GAIN trainer, who then submits it to the "inventor" of the GAIN for approval. Hours ago I got their "go-ahead."

Good Morning,

I have attached administration feedback for Jessica Chalifour who works at Child and Family Services in New Hampshire. This is Jessi’s third submission and I am recommending her for administration certification.

Please contact me if you have any questions or need additional information. Thank you!

So, to many, this may not mean anything. However, in my world, this is huge and the culmination of a lot of hard work, perfecting my skill, and mastering the tool. I am so excited and was, additionally, granted the opportunity to become a local trainer of this instrument. Being a local trainer would give me the ability to certify people within my agency to use the tool, and train them in it's implementation. This would make me more marketable, but also means a ton more work for me. It wouldn't be a big deal if I wasn't already in the process of applying for other certifications; my LADC (Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor [requires 1 year addictions work, and oral/written exam), LCMHC, (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor [3000 hrs. post-masters work, written exam), and in June I'm attending a week long training to become certified in A-CRA (Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach [taped sessions in several competency areas with mastery]) But, if I survived Graduate school, I can do this too.

On a final note, this is where I spend the most of my time. My office is finally finished (relocated and redecorated, completely new paint, furniture, and our program [teen services/ASAT] moved to a new building- I am spoiled, I admit, CFS is good to me.) Seriously, how cute is my office???