David Santiago

Find all our resources in one place: https://linktr.ee/ccar Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) organizes the recovery community (people in recovery, family members, friends and allies) to 1) put a face on recovery and 2) provide support services. We also promote recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction through advocacy, education and service. CCAR strives to end discrimination surrounding addiction and recovery, open new doors and remove barriers to recovery, maintain and sustain recovery regardless of the pathway, all the while ensuring that all people in recovery, and people seeking recovery, are treated with dignity and respect. Our Values – CCAR meets people where they are. We don’t push any one form of recovery on anyone. Over the years CCAR has develop some foundational principles on which we base our work. They are: * You are in recovery if you say you are * There are many pathways to recovery * Focus on the recovery potential, not the pathology * Err on the side of the recoveree * Err on the side of being generous Many times people are left to navigate the system on their own. By the time they get to us, they are frustrated, crying, discouraged. We talk with them. We meet them where they are. We offer the hope of a new way of living. We help them. Our Story – CCAR was founded in 1998 when Bob Savage, a long-time state employee, set out to answer two questions. 1) Where are the people in recovery when policy decisions are made? 2) Can the recovery community be organized? Many years later, thanks in large part to his early vision and dedication, the organized recovery community is at the table (locally and nationally) and our presence is growing. In the early years, CCAR focused solely on advocacy and because of the influence of the recovery community, evolved into providing recovery support services. We are often seen as pioneers and our consulting services are in high demand.