Felon wants job as an Addiction Counselor
Dear Sir or Madam,
I came across this email on your website as I am looking for ways to help my adult son. He is a heroin addict in recovery. He wants to become an addiction counselor, but we are struggling to find someone to get advice from. He is very intelligent and has a bachelor's in psych. He wants to get his MS and applied to the program at our local university, but was turned down based on the felony, telling him they don't want him to end up with more student loans, as the licensing bd in Ohio will not grant him a license. He is very depressed, feeling that he will never be able to do what he wants to do.
He has of course had great difficulty finding any work. He was just hired to do heavy lifting in a warehouse for low pay. He's worked there a week, and has put in 50 hours. He's 28, with back and foot problems, and has been coming home in great pain. This has added to the feeling that he will never get a good job, will never be able to live on his own, marry one day, and support a family. It doesn't help that he has a brother who is an attorney, and a sister in medical school. He would be happy to get a lesser job as a case aid or similar position so that he can prove himself.
He tells me he has heard of other drug counselors who were felons, but we can't find one for him to talk to. There is little hope of having his record expunged because he has two misdemeanor charges for behavior when he was using (non violent) , plus the felony for use. That excludes you from expungement in Ohio. Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you,
Trying to help without enabling,
Demi
Felon wants job as an Addiction Counselor
Hello Demi,
I know of addiction counselors who have criminal records, but that is here in NJ. My suggestion is to contact the local United Way. The United Way supports an array of social assistance programs. Perhaps they can refer you to a rehab center they are affiliated with. Your son could probably
volunteer a few hours per week to acquaint himself with the facility and work with counselors. I am sure he will meet someone who could steer him in the right direction. He could possibly find employment opportunities within one of the agencies the United Way supports.
I hope this helps
volunteer a few hours per week to acquaint himself with the facility and work with counselors. I am sure he will meet someone who could steer him in the right direction. He could possibly find employment opportunities within one of the agencies the United Way supports.
I hope this helps
Felon wants job as an Addiction Counselor
Eric Mayo