DWI Assessment – Code of Conduct

 Absolute Advocacy is committed to abiding by the following principles and practices

1. To conduct all services in accordance with applicable state laws, rules and guidelines;
2. To take every possible measure to determine that the assessment and placement of clients shall be based upon clinical considerations; and to ensure that employees of this facility shall not offer, give, solicit, or accept any fee, gift or other special considerations in return for the referral of clients, or as an inducement to modify the outcome of the assessment or the services provided;
3. To insist that all employees of this facility conduct themselves in accordance with codes of ethical practice adopted by their professional groups, and that they maintain their credentials and professional competence;
4. To inform the client of the right to seek the required services from another facility, and to refrain from any attempt to coerce the client into staying with this facility; to offer the client a list of facilities providing the specified services;
5. To refer clients to other services as necessary to address additional problems which would impair the client’s ability to function as a safe driver. If the problems are not resolved, this facility will communicate in writing with the Medical Review Board of the DMV so that further monitoring of the client can be conducted;
6. To ensure that staff of this facility are qualified by training, experience, temperament, judgment and emotional stability to carry out their assigned work. Persons in recovery must demonstrate sufficient length and quality of sobriety as to be able to lead others. Persons without a history of problems with alcohol and other drugs should demonstrate judgment in their personal behavior so as to protect the clients and the reputation of this facility;
7. Each client will be asked to disclose any previous assessment(s) for this offense and /or to affirm in writing that this is the first assessment for this offense; and, in any case, this facility may not conduct a second assessment for an offense unless permission is given to review information from any previous assessments by obtaining a signed client release form.
8. To ensure that persons authorized to conduct assessments satisfy one (at a minimum) of the criteria listed below:

   (1) Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC), as defined by the Commission;

   (2) Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS), as defined by the Commission;

   (3) A person licensed by the North Carolina Medical Board or the North Carolina Psychology Board;

   (4) A physician certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

9. To treat all clients with respect, courtesy and professionalism.