CARES Program

Peer Recovery Support Services

CARES Academy 

CARES Academy 87 

Academy Dates December 7th-11th,2026

Applications Open Monday,September  21st, 2026

Applications Close Friday,October 16th, 2026

CARES Academy 88 RCO

Academy Dates January 11th-16th,2026

Applications Open Monday,October 19th 2026

Applications Close Friday November 13th, 2026

CARES Academy 89

Academy Dates February 15th-19th,2027

Applications Open Monday November 23rd, 2026

Applications Close Friday December 18th, 2026

CARES Academy 90 MAR

Academy Dates March 22nd-19th, 2027

Applications Open Monday January 11, 2027

Applications Close Friday February 5th, 2027

CARES Academy 91

Academy Dates April 26th-30th, 2027

Applications Open Monday February 15th, 2027

Applications Close Friday March 12th, 2027

CARES  DHH Academy 92 

Academy Dates May 17th-21st, 2027

Applications Close Friday May 3rd, 2027

CARES Academy 93

Academy Dates June 21st-25th, 2027

Applications Open Monday April 12th, 2027

Applications Close Friday May 15th, 2027

CARES Academy 94

Academy Dates August 23rd-27th, 2027

Applications Open Monday June 14th, 2027

Applications Close Friday July 9th, 2027

CARES Academy 95

Academy Dates October 18th-22nd, 2027

Applications Open Monday August 9th, 2027

Applications Close Friday September 3rd, 2027

CARES Academy 96

Academy Dates December 6th-10th, 2027

Applications Open Monday September 20th, 2027

Applications Close Friday October 15th, 2027

CARES MISSION

The mission of Georgia CARES is to promote long-term recovery from substance use disorders by providing experienced peer support and advocating for self-directed care.

CARES VISION

We envision a recovery-oriented system of care that supports self-directed pathways to recovery by building on the strengths and resilience of individuals, families and communities.
Empowering people in recovery to live meaningful and rewarding lives.
The Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist Academy was developed by the Georgia Council for Recovery to create a workforce of peers to provide recovery support services to the communities of Georgia. Funded by Georgia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the CARES Academy is the first of its kind in the country to be Medicaid billable.

 
Upon completion of the CARES Academy, peers are able to:
  •  Advocate for recovery for themselves, the peers with whom they work, their recovery community, and for a Recovery Oriented System of Care.
  • Run recovery groups using “Partners for Change Outcome Management System”, an evidence-based practice found on the SAMHSA’s “National Registry of Evidence Based Practices and Programs (NREPP)”.
  • Conduct individual recovery check-ins by supporting peers in self-directed care and assessing a peer’s ‘recovery capital’ using Motivational Interviewing (also on NREPP) skills to enhance the relationship.
The Academy’s many strengths are evidenced in its three core components: Training, Examination, and Continuing Education.

ROSC/CARES Training is a resource designed to provide resources and support for peers interested in enrolling in CARES Academy.

CARES Academy is a 40 hour training consisting of informal lectures and interactive workshops, which focuses on developing skills that enable CARES to provide quality peer recovery support services.

A final examination will be administered to participants. Participants will be issued a CARES Certification after completion of examination with a passing score.

The CARES Continuing Education program is designed to provide ongoing education in established and emerging techniques for providing exceptional peer support services while providing opportunities for personal growth and professional development.

Click to learn more about the Georgia Council for Recovery CARES Program.

Are you a CARES Member? Click to sign in for more all up to date CARES information and resources.

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