The Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA) is based on the Community Reinforcement Approach (Meyers & Smith, 1995) and was adapted to increase its relevance for adolescents (Godley, Meyers et al., 2002). This evidence-based treatment was evaluated in the Cannabis Youth Treatment Study (Dennis, Godley, et al., 2004). The content of this training will be to describe the research that underlies A-CRA, its theoretical approach, the procedures that are in the manual, provide the opportunity for attendees to practice the procedures, and to provide both supervisors and therapists information about certification in A-CRA. The training will be followed by a certification process that will include tape reviews of sessions during which the model is used. Local supervisors will also go through a certification process specific to this model.
Funding for this training is provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Addiction Services. Participating agencies must be able to demonstrate capacity to provide support to staff throughout the certification process. Trainees have up to 6 months to complete full A-CRA certification. Unless previously authorized by BSAS, all agencies must send two staff, one of whom will complete A-CRA supervision certification, the other A-CRA clinician certification. Supervisors will obtain both clinical and supervisor certification. Registration must be approved by BSAS.
All BSAS A-CRA trained agencies agree to participate on the quarterly A-CRA Learning Collaborative.
