17 Nov Online Substance Abuse Certificate
Carteret Community College Offers Online Substance Abuse Certificate
Kathy Foster, Chair of Human Services Technology at Carteret CC
Morehead City, N.C. (November 17, 2020) – Carteret Community College (Carteret CC) is now offering an online substance abuse certificate. Adding the certificate to the course offerings became a mission for Kathy Foster, Chair of Human Services Technology at Carteret CC.
Foster is very involved in the community. When she became aware of the death rate in Carteret County and our nation due to the opioid crisis, she wanted to try to make a difference. Naturally, she turned to her job at Carteret Community College where she teaches in the Human Services field.
“As Vice-Chair of the Carteret County Consolidated Human Services Board, each month the board is briefed about the deaths that occur in Carteret County along with the cause of death. I also serve as a member of the Carteret Collaborative where we discuss the Carteret County mental health needs each month, this includes the number of residents who are involuntarily committed, as well as the number of clients administered Narcan, which reverses the effects of opioids,” said Foster. “As a concerned citizen and professionally trained counselor, I felt compelled to try to help my community by adding the Substance Abuse Certificate to our offerings.”
Carteret County has several Substance Use Treatment facilities. Through the Human Services Technology and Substance Abuse programs, Carteret CC is providing much needed paraprofessionals for the work force. The new Substance Abuse Certificate offering will broaden the skill sets of the students, thereby making them more valuable to local providers.
“A common occurrence for individuals completing a recovery program is the desire to help others find a pathway out of addiction,” said Foster. “The Human Service Education program of study has experienced much success, as evidenced by several of our graduates, moving on to Lees-McRae University pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees.”
In the Fall 2021 semester, Carteret Community College students can access the online program by using computer equipment closer to home at several locations throughout the county. Carteret CC secured nearly $1 million through a USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant to install computer equipment at the Marine Science and Techology (MaST) Early College, Carteret Community College, East Carteret High School, The Bridge Downeast, Croatan High School, Carteret County Department of Social Services, Carteret County Fort Benjamin Recreation Center, Harlowe Community Center and Western Carteret Library.
“Many of my students live far from campus,” said Foster. “Creating a remote learning site could allow the residents of Carteret County to make significant progress on their personal journeys.”
If you are interested in learning more about Carteret Community College’s programs, call 252-222-6000 or visit www.Carteret.edu.
