Albuquerque Metropolitan Central Intake
Our Mission:
"Albuquerque Metropolitan Central Intake (AMCI) was created to improve access for individuals in need of substance abuse treatment services
by providing assessment, unbiased referral, and placement into treatment through single point of entry."
"AMCI has developed and maintains a confidential management information system that facilitates service tracking, and supports the City of
Albuquerque in evaluating services, identifying gaps in service, and providing justification for investment in services for this client pool."
-AMCI site
"AMCI is an intake facility where substance users may go to get an assessment on their use and possibly receive a voucher for outpatient counseling.
No counseling is actually done at AMCI; it is only a referral service. Some of the clients are court scheduled and part of a mandated program
(usually revolving around DWI or CYFD related offenses), others are told by their probation officers to go for assistance, others are looking for
help but can’t afford it, and some just don’t know where to start in the search for counseling. AMCI acts as a filter to assist those practically
and financially with placement." -AMCI intern
Past Students' Duties
"Answer phones- most of the time potential clients will call ahead of time looking to set up an appointment, get directions,
or ask some specific questions about what to expect from the assessment or what they might need to bring with them... When a client calls looking
for information on how to get an assessment interns are now supposed to transfer the call to one of the counselors who have been appointed a “screener”
for that day. The counselor will go over questions with the potential client to see if they are eligible for an assessment. If they are, the person
if transferred back up to the front and an appointment (within a week usually) will be made for them (usually by an intern or another one of the
staff)... Also, interns will be completing some appointment reminder calls within 24 hours of the appointment if needed."
"Work the “Window”- The "window" is where clients come up and ask for paperwork, check-in for a court scheduled appointment,
or ask questions... Interns are taught the confidentiality and ethics policies regarding demeanor and information gathering at the window, interns
are also briefed on health insurance policies, and what to do with each type of case... Also, interns will sometimes be required to take a client back
into the “Familia” room (small conference room for privacy purposes) and discuss things such as the health insurance policies or the details of the
particular case if clarification is needed."
"Clerical Duties- Smaller tasks such as filing, copying, organizing materials, and stocking the front (as in paperwork for the
clients) are also in the intern’s list of duties. Interns are taught how to work each machine and where everything is located. Also, at times clients
need to use the restroom (located on our side of the locked lobby), so interns take the client to the restroom, unlock it, and wait till they are
finished (safety reasons) to escort them back to the lobby and outside the locked doors." -AMCI intern
What should I know about this placement?
"I don’t believe it to be a big deal (unless you are deathly afraid of needles), but I had to get a TB test my first few weeks at AMCI for safety
purposes. Since the staff and interns are dealing with a variety of people from the public, and in large amounts, you may come into contact with
someone who has previously been exposed to, etc. various conditions." -AMCI intern
Why might this placement be a good fit for me?
"I thought this would be a good placement for me personally because I was particularly interested in the substance using/abusing population.
I had taken a class (Psychology 499) where I was exposed to research aspects of substance abuse and was even able to listen to tapes of therapy
sessions, but I wanted to see a more “street-level” view of this world. I wanted to have direct contact with that specific population in order
to see if it would be a right fit for me."
"I didn’t know at the time, but after I started to lean more about AMCI, it was also a good fit in that I was able to see a city-funded
organization, and how complicated, but rewarding everything can be for both the clients and staff at AMCI. I have learned a great deal since I have
been here in regards to the substance using population in particular, but I have also been taught about the world of behavioral science work in
general."
"All of the counselors, staff, and supervisors are very friendly and want to teach you as much as they can about what they do. I’m still not positive
what particular group I would like to work with in the future, but this experience has given me a taste of what it would be like to work in the substance
abuse arena. I think this kind of exposure is very important, and one of the best ways to really learn something about your future work and even
yourself." -AMCI intern
Miscellaneous
Intern Duties, Supplied by AMCI
"We ask our clients to complete numerous pages of paperwork and many of them find if difficult and confusing. There are literacy issues and
uncertainty as to why we ask for the information which is so personal. Students will answer client questions about the paperwork and help them
fill it out if needed. Students will learn how to interact effectively with people experiencing a wide array of emotions and life problems.
Students will also answer phone inquiries ranging from specific questions about our services to those inquiries which are completely unrelated to AMCI.
Students with an interest may be asked to develop training modules and present to staff. Students may present proposals for other duties of
interest to them and these will be reviewed by the intern supervisor. Students will also have the opportunity to observe the assessment process
used at AMCI to determine the extent of client’s drug or alcohol problems."
Placement Information
