LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky continues to grapple with one of the highest substance use and overdose rates in the nation. The crisis has placed extraordinary pressure on healthcare systems across the Commonwealth, with rural and underserved areas facing acute shortages of qualified behavioral health professionals.
In direct response to this critical need, the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) launched a new micro credential aimed at equipping undergraduate students to serve individuals and communities affected by substance use.
In direct response to this critical need, the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW), in collaboration with the Kentucky Center on Addiction Studies and Research, developed a substance use counseling course sequence designed to support undergraduate students interested in serving individuals and communities affected by substance use.
Students who engage in this learning opportunity may be eligible to pursue the state-recognized Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor Associate I (CADCA I) recognition, which is awarded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
“By building state-recognized preparation opportunities into our undergraduate offerings, students are better positioned to pursue behavioral health workforce pathways in Kentucky,” said Shelita Jackson, Director of the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program. “This experience supports students who wish to pursue training and employment aligned with substance use and recovery-oriented services.”
The learning sequence includes online, hybrid, and face-to-face training and simulations designed to build competency in screening and assessment, treatment planning, professional ethics, and related practice knowledge.
This program is just the latest in a series of strategic efforts focused strengthening behavioral health education and service capacity across Kentucky. It is part of the College’s broader efforts to expand Kentucky’s behavioral health workforce, including the Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) partnership, the Rural Health and Well-Being Certificate, and the 4-H Behavioral Health Workforce Project, among others.
“We are laser focused on responding to Kentucky’s critical and persistent workforce needs,” said Dr. Justin “Jay” Miller, Dean of the College of Social Work. “Through creative partnerships and workforce-aligned training initiatives, our students will be academically prepared to meet those workforce needs and have an immediate impact in the areas of our state that need it most.”
The Substance Use Counseling Credential admitted its inaugural cohort this past August. The next application cycle will open for students in January 2026. Interested students should work with their academic advisor to determine how these course(s) apply toward the BASW degree (major requirement, elective, or other), consistent with UK’s transfer, application, and stacking policies.
For more information about this program, please visit socialwork.uky.edu/academics/basw-program/substance-counseling-credential/.
About this Credential:
The CADCA I is awarded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, not by the University of Kentucky. Only completed course credit(s) will be recorded on official University of Kentucky academic transcripts.
