CARES Academy
The CARES Academy is held four times each calendar year, typically in the metro Atlanta area. Each Academy includes 40 hours of in-class training (Monday through Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm), as well as pre-Academy assignments, and assignments made during the training week.
Applying to CARES
Upcoming Academies
CARES 60 Academy
Academy Dates February 19th-February 23rd, 2024
Applications Open Monday November 27th, 2023
Applications Close Friday December 22nd, 2023
CARES MAR 61 Academy
MAR cohort is specifically for peers who have or currently use medication to support their recovery from opioid or alcohol misuse.
Academy Dates March 25th – March 29th, 2024
Applications Open Monday January 8th, 2024
Applications Close Friday February 2nd, 2024
ASL CARES Academy 62
ASL CARES 62 is specifically for peers who use ASL as their first language.
Academy Dates April 22nd – April 26th, 2024
Applications Open Monday January 29th, 2024
Applications Close Friday February 23rd, 2024, at 4pm
CARES Academy 63
Academy Dates May 20th – May 24th, 2024
Applications Open Monday February 26th, 2024
Applications Close Friday March 22nd, 2024, at 4pm
RCO/ARSC CARES Academy 64
RCO/ARSC CARES 64 is specifically for peers who are an employee/volunteer at a Recovery Community Organization or Addiction Recovery Support Center.
Academy Dates June 24th –June 28th, 2024
Applications Open Monday April 8th, 2024
Applications Close Friday May 3rd, 2024, at 4pm
CARES Academy 65
Academy Dates August 19th– 23rd, 2024
Applications Open Monday June 3rd, 2024
Applications Close Friday June 28th, 2024, at 4pm.
CARES Academy 66
Academy Dates October 21st –25th, 2024
Applications Open Monday June 29th, 2024
Applications Close Friday August 23rd, 2024, at 4pm
The Application Process
Writing Samples
The written submission, which applicants submit online, includes biographical information (education, employer, etc), and requires three basic components:
A writing sample (250-500 words) provided by the applicant.
Two reference letters (250-500 words each) provided by people with direct knowledge of the applicant’s life in recovery, and who can provide examples of how the applicant exhibits the values of CARES.
One of the references must identify as being a person in long term recovery and that references must not be family members.
The writing sample and reference letters should make explicit reference to how the applicant demonstrates the CARES Values in life. These values include Hope, Wellness, Diversity, Recovery, Integrity, and Commitment
About The Writing Sample
Many of us are taught the value of humility in our recovery programs, and we honor that. However, this writing sample is not the place for it! Please use this opportunity to talk about your accomplishments in recovery so that we can better understand how you will be able to serve your peers in recovery.
Each writing sample and references are scored by a team of GCSA staff and CARES alumni, who are looking for the CARES values, as well as demonstrated leadership (ideally but not necessarily in the recovery community); dependability; ability to use recovery story to help others; and the support of the many pathways to recovery.
We recommend that you visit the application website at the bottom of this page prior to beginning your application there, so you can have all of the required information ready to submit. Unfortunately, applications cannot be saved, or retrieved once they are submitted.
About The Reference Letters
CARES reference letters are not like traditional references for jobs or application to college. These references should speak directly to the applicant’s recovery and leadership through examples. We believe that everyone in recovery has the potential to become a CARES, but for the CARES Academy, we look for individuals who have evidence of leadership and strong recovery.
Also, the credentials and background of a reference cannot improve the score of the applicant. The focus of the maximum-500-word reference should be the applicant.
Group Interview
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 CARES Values
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.
Application Review
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.