Caroline Miller had been out school for a while when she decided to enroll in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Substance Abuse Certificate Program, seeking a career change. The results were profound.
“It changed the course of my professional and personal life,” she says.
Miller wanted to help people in recovery, and the Substance Abuse Certificate Program provided exactly the training she needed. It includes six one-day courses focusing on addiction and effective models for treatment. The program is geared toward counselors, therapists, psychologists, and social workers who help to treat people with substance abuse disorders.
“It’s a great opportunity for adult students and people in the field to come back and learn the most up-to-date information,” Miller says.
The program had a transformative effect on Miller by convincing her that she could succeed as a nontraditional student.
“I didn’t think it would be possible for me to go back to school as an adult learner,” she says. “After taking the Substance Abuse Certificate Program, I gained confidence and made the decision to pursue a graduate degree here at UW-Madison.”
Along with learning new skills, Miller appreciated the chance to expand her professional network.
“People from all over Wisconsin attended the certificate training, so I was able to meet with experts in the field of substance use disorders,” she says. “I made some great connections and learned more about what other people are doing across the state.”
For more information about the Substance Abuse Certificate Program, contact Florence Hilliard, fhilliard@dcs.wisc.edu, 608-265-2679, or call 800-442-2617.