This training provides a comprehensive overview of the ASAM Criteria (2013 edition) and equips behavioral health professionals with the skills necessary to apply it effectively in clinical assessment, level of care determination, and treatment planning. The program is designed for clinicians, care managers, and other behavioral health providers working in settings where substance use and co-occurring behavioral health disorders are addressed. Participants will explore the clinical philosophy and development of the ASAM Criteria, with an emphasis on individualized, multidimensional assessment and patient-centered care. The training includes interactive case studies, decision-making exercises, and practical strategies for integrating the ASAM Criteria into real-world practice.

Training Dates:                                                  Registration Closing Dates:

Virtual Location Big Blue Button platform with hosting by https://bhs.unc.edu

Learning Objectives Participants completing this training will be able to: 

• Explain the foundational philosophy and clinical purpose behind the ASAM Criteria and its evolution as a national standard for addiction treatment.
• Utilize key components of the ASAM Criteria (2013 edition), with specific attention to adaptations for various populations, including special populations.
• Analyze the role of the six assessment dimensions in forming a comprehensive biopsychosocial evaluation and guiding individualized treatment planning.
• Evaluate cases to determine appropriate severity ratings across each ASAM dimension to inform appropriate placement recommendations.
• Differentiate between ASAM levels of care and articulate the scope of services, staffing, and treatment intensity appropriate to each level.
• Apply ASAM decision-making principles to real-world case examples, using clinical judgment and dimensional ratings to determine suitable level of care.
• Interpret the admission, continued service, and transfer criteria embedded in the ASAM framework and their relevance in clinical and administrative decision-making.
• Develop approaches for resolving level-of-care conflicts within care teams or with external stakeholders using ASAM-aligned tools and collaborative dialogue.
• Identify practical barriers to ASAM implementation in varied treatment environments and propose strategies to enhance fidelity and integration.

Agenda - Two-Day ASAM Criteria Skill Building Training

Day 1 – 8:30a.m. – 4:30p.m. EST

Opening Session (8:30-9:00 AM)

Session 1: ASAM Foundations (9:00-10:30 AM)

Break (10:30-10:45 AM)

Session 2: The Six Assessment Dimensions - Part 1 (10:45 AM-12:15 PM)

Lunch Break (12:15-1:15 PM)

Session 3: The Six Assessment Dimensions - Part 2 (1:15-2:45 PM)

Break (2:45-3:00 PM)

Session 4: Dimensions 5-6 and Initial Case Application (3:00-4:15 PM)

Day 1 Wrap-up and Q&A (4:15-4:30 PM)

Day 2 – 8:30a.m. – 4:30p.m. EST

Day 1 Review and Day 2 Preview (8:30-8:45 AM)

Session 5: ASAM Levels of Care - Outpatient (8:45-10:15 AM)

Break (10:15-10:30 AM)

Session 6: ASAM Levels of Care - Residential and Inpatient (10:30 AM-12:00 PM)

Lunch Break (12:00-1:00 PM)

Session 7: Special Populations and Adaptations (1:00-2:15 PM)

Session 8: Clinical Decision-Making and Case Studies (2:15-3:45 PM)

Break (3:45-4:00 PM)

Session 9: Implementation and Conflict Resolution (4:00-4:15 PM)

Training Wrap-up and Evaluation (4:15-4:30 PM)

Registration New training dates now open for Fall 2025!

Registration fee:  $250 per person. Organizations purchasing multiple registrations can buy 3 and get the 4th half off. The registration fee is specific to the dates selected and is not transferrable to a different date. Fee includes 13 contact hours and a hard copy of The ASAM Criteria manual.

Refunds Refunds will be issued up to 2 weeks before the training date.

Requests for Accommodations:

Registrants requiring any of the auxiliary aids or services identified in the Americans with Disabilities Act to participate in our training programs, please contact us by email at bhs-support@unc.edu or by phone at (919) 843-6083 after completing registration to ensure we have enough time to secure the requested services.

Contact for Questions: bhs-support@.unc.edu (919) 843-6083

Continuing Education

Full attendance is required to receive credit; no partial credit will be given.

All participants completing the training will be issued a certificate of completion demonstrating 13 contact hours.

NBCC: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6642.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.  13 contact hours

NCASPPB: This course has been submitted to the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board for up to 13 SS (EBT) contact hours. 

Registration Confirmation Notices and Certificates of Completion:

Registration fee is $250, and participants must register at least 2 weeks in advance of the training date to attend. We will confirm your registration by email. Successful completion includes being logged in and virtually participating for the entire two days. Immediately after the training concludes participants will receive an email notifying them of the process and the manner, they will gain access to the evaluation and the certificate of completion for the training. The Certificate of Completion email will go within 5 business days after the training concludes to participants who met the time requirement listed in the continuing education policy based on the length of the training. Fees include credit hours, a hard copy ASAM manual, and training material.

Presenters for the Live Webinar Training Sessions

Brittany Greene, MA, LCMHCA, LCAS-A, NCC

Brittany Greene is a licensed clinical mental health counselor associate (LCMHCA) and licensed clinical addictions specialist associate (LCAS-A) in the State of North Carolina. She also is a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Brittany is the Provider Training Program Specialist for Behavioral Health Springboard (BHS) within the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Brittany also serves as the Work First SU/CPS Initiative Coordinator for BHS and DMH/DD/SUS Women’s Services Team. In addition to her dual roles serving the citizens of the great State of North Carolina, she also works as a private practice clinician providing mental health services to children, adolescents, and adults with varying mental health concerns. Brittany has served as a Behavioral Health Ambassador for the SAMHSA-funded HBCU C.A.R.E.S. program, where she worked to expose college students at historically black colleges and universities to careers in the field of behavioral health, as well as issues in behavioral health through interactive presentations and conversations. She also was a Research Scholar with the Department of Veteran Affairs, Center for Excellence, inaugural cohort participating in research, discussions, and presentations on how to prevent Veteran suicide. Brittany started her career as a mental health clinician in private practice serving individuals with various presenting concerns, including substance use and behavioral disorders. Brittany’s career background prior to her current role has included working in the school system as an Elementary school teacher and as a Disability analyst for the State of North Carolina under the Social Security Administration. Brittany holds a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Winston-Salem State University and dual Master’s degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling from North Carolina Central University. 

Shalisa Clifton, MS

Shalisa Clifton is a passionate mental health professional with a strong foundation in behavioral health education, support coordination, and community engagement. She currently serves as an Adult Behavioral Training Assistant at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she supports the implementation and delivery of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) programs. In this role, she coordinates logistics, manages participant outreach and registration, and facilitates engaging Adult MHFA sessions tailored to diverse audiences across community, corporate, and educational settings.

Shalisa is a certified instructor in Adult Mental Health First Aid, Mental Health First Aid for Veterans, and QPR Suicide Prevention. She is deeply committed to mental health advocacy and capacity-building through evidence-based training and education.

Prior to her current role, Shalisa served as a Telehealth Coordinator at MindPath Care Center, where she led system improvements, team development initiatives, and virtual training coordination. She also completed internships with the Durham Proud Program as a Youth Program Coordinator and the North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, where she provided direct counseling, facilitated psychosocial groups, and developed individualized treatment plans to support client recovery and employment readiness.

She holds a Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling from Texas Tech University and a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Studies from Winston-Salem State University, where she was recognized on the Dean’s List.

A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Shalisa serves her community alongside women committed to service to all mankind. Her work is driven by a deep belief in equitable access to mental health support, education, and culturally responsive care.