Our Story Begins Here
Quality within the continuum of recovery services available to American Indian Communities.
— UMICAD’s Mission
A Brief History
The Upper Midwest Indian Council on Addictive Disorders (UMICAD) was formed in 1986 with the cooperation of the Area Bemidji IHS in recognition of the need for competitive standards with other certification bodies, as well as the increasing accountability required by the Federal Government.
UMICAD offers certification to qualified counselors and peer support specialists who work with American Indian people.
The purpose of certification is to insure a level of knowledge and skill among our board-certified specialists.
UMICAD believes in the importance of standards for counselor practice established by Indian AODA program staff rather than waiting for the government to set standards.
Certification for counselors, developed by Indian people, is considered necessary because special skills and knowledge that are needed to work effectively within the Indian community. By the development of Indian specific certification standards, Indian people are more assured that unique cultural, spiritual, and social factors are incorporated into the standards.
Certification provides a measure of excellence, which is recognized far beyond the Indian community. It constitutes an important step in insuring that the quality of AODA counseling services is maintained at a recognized acceptable level.
Certification attests to the professional qualifications and competence of the counselor. The standards for Alcohol and Drug Counselor I (ADC I) are those commonly recognized by various AODA entities and authorities in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Northern Illinois, UMICAD, and Indian Health Service (IHS).
The specific requirements and procedures for certification have been developed by the UMICAD. The standards for Alcohol and Drug Counselor II and III (ADC II & III) meet and are approved by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC).
Context
Beginning in 1978, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse began transferring to the United States Public Health Service, IHS. This transfer of agency authority came about in part because of P.L. 94-437, Indian Health Care Improvement Act. The Indian Health Care Improvement Act noted that alcohol abuse continued to be a major health problem among Indian people.
Indian Health Services had been the principal federal agency responsible for Indian health care since 1955, therefore, Congress believed it was appropriate for IHS to assume direct responsibility for Indian alcohol programs.
To continue the tribal and urban AODA programs, IHS contracted with tribal governments and urban non-profit boards to maintain and expand Indian alcohol programs. In addition to maintaining existing programs, IHS has committed itself to provide training and evaluation.
As Programs expand and attain stability, the tribal community has a right to consistent and defined levels of services. Counselor certification is an important factor in defining a consistent level of knowledge and skill.
Certification is a process by which non-governmental agencies grant recognition to individuals who have met certain per-determined qualifications specified by that agency and are generally agreed upon by other agencies to be of value.