CARES Academy

When phone references are completed, the applicants with the highest combined scores from the written submissions and phone references are invited to participate in a group interview. Notifications of whether or not an applicant has been invited to participate in the interview are typically sent within 10 business days of the application deadline. Please make certain you have gasubstanceabuse.org included as a “safe sender” in your email. To learn how to “whitelist” in your email software, please click here. Instructions on how to register for an interview slot are included in the email sent to invited applicants, and are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. All interviews are scheduled on a single workday, typically between 10am and 2pm. Applicants who are not able to attend the interview are encouraged to re-apply for the next CARES Academy.  

The interview is an opportunity for GCSA to get to know the applicants, and for the applicants to demonstrate how they might incorporate the values, mission, and vision of CARES into their interactions with peers in recovery.

The group interview is very structured in its format, to ensure that each applicant has the same amount of time and opportunity to share in the group. Typically there are three GCSA staff members and eight applicants in each group interview. Applicants are scored on their ability to use their recovery story, including the CARES values.

For many people, the group interview format is very new, and a little foreign, so we encourage applicants whenever possible to attend a CARES/ROSC Workshop, where a mock group interview is held, with questions similar to those asked in the real group interview. Participants of the CARES/ROSC workshop tend to be more successful on their first application to the CARES Academy.

Examples of a CARES Value: Wellness

Stronger: I am in daily contact with my recovery community, I go to the gym four times a week, and participate in my faith community at least once a week.

Good: I chair meetings in my home group.

Needs Work: I take really good care of myself.

Examples of a CARES Value: Diversity

Stronger: Jamie founded an inter-faith soup kitchen that builds relationships within our faith community.

Good: Jamie volunteers at the prison and the PTA.

Needs Work: Jamie works well with diverse groups of people.

Examples of a CARES Value: Integrity

Stronger: Jamie can always be relied on to complete any task she is given, to the best of her ability, and on time.

Good: Jamie can be trusted with anything.

Needs Work: Jamie is a very honest person with lots of integrity.

A committee including the GCSA staff involved in the application process meet to review the final scores, discuss the outcomes, and build consensus to assemble the roster of the next CARES Academy. This meeting typically happens within three business days of the interviews.

All applicants will receive email notification of the final decision. Those who are selected to attend the next Academy will be asked to confirm that they still wish to attend. If anyone is unable to attend, that spot in the Academy will be passed on to the next applicant. Applicants who are not selected to attend the next Academy are encouraged to call and receive feedback on their application and reapply for the next Academy. It is not unusual for applicants to apply two or more times before being accepted, and the number of times someone applies to the Academy does not positively or negatively impact their ability to be accepted into the program.