What is a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP)?

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Get Back to Work FAST with Mona Ellis  DOT SAP services

Department of Transportation DOT Qualified SAP Return to Duty Services    

DOT SAP services in the states of Texas, Arizona, and Utah

DISA-Hire Right-NSAP  Clearance for Return to Work    

Initial SAP evaluation scheduled within 2 to 4 days

The cost is $490.00, option to pay a $250.00 downpayment or Klarna or Affirm the total amount, By Now, Pay Later. 

       Substance Abuse Professional Qualifications

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published Alcohol and Drug Testing Rules for safety-sensitive transportation workers on February 15, 1994. The rules identify Certified Employee Assistance Professionals (CEAPs), and five other types of professionals, as eligible to carry out the functions of a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) if the professional meets two other criteria provided in the rules.

Mona Ellis is a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) who provides services for 16 insurance agency brokers that serve over 200 Department of Transportation companies covering over 20,000 safety-sensitive employees.

What is a SAP? What are SAP Functions?

In order to legally function as a SAP, a professional must be one of the following:

Licensed or Certified Employee Assistance Professional

Licensed M.D. or D.O.

Licensed or Certified Social Worker

Licensed or Certified Psychologist

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Alcohol and drug abuse counselor certified at the national level by the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors.

Substance abuse counselor certified by the NAADAC Certification Commission or ICRC Certification Commission.

In addition, to qualify as a SAP, eligible professionals must meet two additional criteria

"Knowledge of," and,

"Clinical experience in" the diagnosis and treatment of alcohol and drug-related disorders.

A Substance Abuse Professional (SAP)  is qualified to evaluate employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol policy regulation and who make recommendations of education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare services.   Mona Ellis, DOT Qualifed SAP, will provide an in-person or video clinical interview and assessment within the states of Texas,Utah and Arizoana Jurisdictions.        Mona Ellis, SAP, advocates for neither the employer nor the employee. As stated in DOT regulations, the SAP’s function is to protect the public interest in safety by professionally evaluating the employee and recommending appropriate education and/or treatment, follow-up tests, and aftercare.

The SAP conducting  of the assessment:

The SAP  maybe a licensed or certified professional: licensed physician, registered psychologist, or a certified, registered, or licensed addiction counselor, social worker and is able to diagnose as outlined in their provincially regulated health professional guidelines;

-has met the educational, experiential, & competency criteria to be in good standing with a professional agency that governs their respective discipline;

-has received training specific to the (SAP) roles and responsibilities, has knowledge of and clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse-related disorders, and has an understanding of the safety implications of substance use and abuse. 

The responsibility and function of the  SAP) is:

-to apply quality & diligence in the assessment process in order to protect your safety & the workplace’s safety & health;

-not an advocate for any stakeholder in the process beyond the mandate of the assessment, rather they are to remain impartial.

What can you expect during the assessment?

•Please arrive 15 minutes early for your appointment to complete the required paperwork prior to the start of your appointment, including consent for the assessment and a release form for us to share the results of your assessment. Without the signed consent and release, we will not be able to proceed with the assessment.

•Your assessment appointment may last u to 90 minutes. The clinical interview will cover the reason for referral and review your functioning in various areas of your life. The face-to-face/visual audio interview includes assessment of all the relevant factors known to be essential in evaluating individuals with possible substance use disorders.

•You will be asked to complete an online and/or pen and paper questionnaire. This questionnaire can take anywhere between 10 to 30 minutes to complete. There are no right or wrong answers; please answer all the questions to the best of your abilit.

•The SAP will schedule a date and time for a 15-minute telephone appointment following the assessment. This debriefs call will review the results of the assessment and the treatment recommendations.

What to expect after the assessment appointment?

Upon leaving the SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROFESSIONAL (SAP) ’s office, the following occurs:

•Pen and paper questionnaire that you completed will be reviewed and the final SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROFESSIONAL (SAP) report will be prepared

The SAP will consult with a Clinical Manager

•A report will be written, listing recommendations about your return to work based on the results of the assessment and sent to those individuals identified on your signed Release of Information. Please note: Our standards stipulate the report will be forwarded within 3 business days (end of day) after your assessment appointment. There are instances when the report may not be ready to be sent due to additional information we require or additional consultations. In this instance, the assessor will call you at the scheduled debrief time and advise you that the report may be delayed up to an additional 2 business days. These occurrences are not common, but they do occur.

•The SAP  assessment will provide a clear statement of the assessment’s outcome (the diagnosis), along with treatment recommendations. These recommendations typically involve treatment options such as education, counselling or inpatient treatment services, follow- up testing, and general conditions of post assessment care.

•Before the final assessment report is released, the assessor will debrief you on the results of the assessment and the treatment recommendations (scheduled date/time established at the time of the SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROFESSIONAL (SAP) Assessment).We ask that you be available at that time.

Please have a pen and paper handy to take down the exact information.

If you do not answer, the SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROFESSIONAL (SAP)  will attempt to call you several times within a span of 1-2 hours. If there is no answer, the SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROFESSIONAL (SAP) will leave you a voice mail message only if you previously indicated that it is acceptable. The message will outline the attempts made to reach you and that the report will be sent to those individuals identified on your signed Release of Information.

•The final report will be released to your case manager, other designates and the individual assessed (if they requested a copy with the diagnosis and treatment recommendations). This includes any recommendations arising from the results of the assessment, for reasonable accommodations and/or treatment to assist you to either remain at work, or to return to work.

•If you have any questions before, during, or after the assessment process, please contact the Intake Team at 713-266-2090. They will connect you with the most appropriate person to answer your questions.

What to expect after I have been debriefed and the SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROFESSIONAL (SAP)  report has been sent to my case manager and/or other designates?

Once you receive the assessment results and the recommended treatment, there are several things that you are required to do in order to get back to work quickly:

•Seek out the resources that you need to meet the recommendations that the SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROFESSIONAL (SAP) outlined during the debriefing phone call.

•f you are engaged in case management, please contact them to review next steps. Note: they will likely have the SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROFESSIONAL (SAP) report only 24-48 hours after your debrief call with me.

If you are not engaged in case management, contact the SAP at 713-266-2090 for questions about your recommended education and/or treatment.

We hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any additional questions regarding the SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROFESSIONAL (SAP) process, please contact Customer Support Team at 713-266-2090. They will answer your question or connect you with the appropriate person to answer your questions.