WAAT was formed in 2001. Six women gathered for lunch once a month with the purpose of sharing experience, support and knowledge in the field of addiction. The lunch meeting turned into a breakfast meeting and soon there were more and more women coming together for a common purpose.
WAAT is a membership organization of professional women in the field of addiction. Our membership is comprised of Psychologists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Specialists, Interventionists, Life Coaches, Sober Living Owners, Treatment Center Owners, Marketers and more. Meetings are held monthly. WAAT offers a variety of speakers every other month, alternating with networking meetings. Topics range from new information about addiction treatment to business management. CEUs are offered for licensed MFTs and LCSWs in good membership standing. Professional development hours are available for CADCs.
Membership is for individuals. The initial membership fee is $125.00, with a $75.00 annual renewal fee. Students can join at a reduced rate. Membership begins on the 1st of the month you join and is renewed on the first of that month the following year.
Benefits of membership include: 1) Privileges to the "Members Only" section of our website, which includes a listing in our resource directory, access to the resource directory, and our membership directory, 2) informative speaker presentations, 3) CEUs or professional development hours, 4) networking, 5) and the opportunity to meet top women in the addiction field discuss the trends and issues that we face on a daily basis.
WAAT has a volunteer executive board of directors who meet quarterly. Each chapter has volunteer officers who provide support for their chapter.
Linda is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a board certified alcohol and drug counselor through the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC), and has also been certified by CAADAC as a Clinical Supervisor. She has extensive experience working with chemically dependent and dually diagnosed populations in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
As the Director of Addiction and Prevention Services at Jewish Family Service, she is responsible for coordinating substance abuse services including prevention, assessment, treatment, education, and referral for chemically dependent clients, program development, in-service training of staff, educational programs in local schools, and community outreach. Prior to coming to Jewish Family Service, she was employed for over five years at Cedars Sinai Medical Center as the team leader for Addiction Medicine Services, and spent ten years as the coordinator for chemical dependency services at a private psychiatric hospital in Southern California.
"WAAT has given me a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow professionally while meeting some of the most outstanding women in the addiction field."