CARES Program
Peer Recovery Support Services
CARES Academy
MAR CARES Academy 70
MAR CARES is specifically for peers who have lived experience with using Medicated Assisted Recovery for Opioid or Alcohol Use Disorder
Academy Dates March 24th –28th, 2025
Applications Open Monday December 23rd, 2024
Applications Close Friday January 17th, 2025, at 4pm
CARES Academy 71
Academy Dates April 21st – 25th, 2025
Applications Open Monday January 27th, 2025
Applications Close Friday February 21st, 2025 at 4pm
ASL/DHH CARES Academy 72
ASL/DHH CARES 72 is specifically for peers who are Deaf & use ASL as their primary mode of communication.
Academy Dates May 19th – 23rd, 2025
Applications Open Monday March 3rd, 2025
Applications Close Friday April 30th, 2025 at 4pm
CARES Academy 73
Academy Dates June 21rd – 27th, 2025
Applications Open Monday April 7th, 2025
Applications Close Friday May 2nd, 2025 at 4pm
MAR CARES Academy 74
Academy Dates July 28th- August 1st, 2025
Applications Open Monday May 12th , 2025
Applications Close Friday June 6th , 2025
CARES Academy 75
Academy Dates August 25th- 29th, 2025
Applications Open Monday, June 16th, 2025
Applications Close Friday, July 11th, 2025
CARES Academy 76
Academy Dates October 6th- 10th, 2025
Applications Open Monday, July 21st, 2025
Applications Close Friday, August 8th, 2025
CARES Academy 77
Academy Dates December 8th-12th, 2025
Applications Open Monday, September 22nd, 2025
Applications Close Friday, October 17th, 2025
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.
- 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.
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.
