Official Launch of the Center for Addiction Recovery Support (CARS)!
A Message from SAMHSA’s Office of Recovery
“Greetings! The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Office of Recovery, in partnership with One World Recovery Network (OWRN), is excited to announce the launch of the new Center for Addiction Recovery Support (CARS)! CARS is ready to provide essential training and technical assistance (TTA) to help organizations better support individuals facing substance use and co-occurring mental health challenges. In 2021, the Office of Recovery was established to advance recovery across the nation. Over the past 4 years, we have been working diligently – in collaboration with the recovery field – to forge partnerships to support all people, families and communities impacted by mental health and/or substance use conditions to pursue recovery, build resilience, and achieve wellness. And one of the many invaluable ways to do this is through the design and delivery of training and technical assistance (TTA) that meets the needs of our local, state, and national recovery partners.
To meet these needs, we recognize that TTA must be led by people with lived and living experience with substance use challenges – both directly and through that of family members and loved ones. So, when we began development of the CARS grant application, we kept this theme at the forefront of the program. Over the next 5 years, the CARS program will advance our nation’s recovery support infrastructure by providing crucial TTA led by those same people that once depended on these life-saving services. From recovery housing and peer certification to collegiate recovery and recovery research, CARS will support critical areas across the recovery field – and we look forward to working with you on this journey of resilience, wellness, and recovery every step of the way.
In Gratitude and Partnership,
Paolo del Vecchio, MSW
Director
David Awadalla, MSW
Public Health Advisor & CARS Government Project Officer
The Office of Recovery
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Reflections from CARS Directors
Annie Powell, Principal Investigator and Director
“In my journey as a person with lived experience and my connection as a family member, recovery access and support were essential to sustaining not only my wellbeing, but that of my family and community. That is why our mission is not only to support recovery but to amplify the voices of those living and working in it.
Through the CARS initiative we are embarking on a journey of transformation, one where the collective power of the recovery movement can shape the future of the nation. Together, [we] will build a recovery ecosystem of hope, resilience, and collaboration designed for every individual and community to gain access to recovery support.”
Onawa LaBelle, PhD, Co-Director
“As someone with nearly 20 years of personal recovery and a background as a researcher in this field, stepping into the role of Co-Director alongside Annie Powell is an honor and a privilege. For me, this is personal. CARS bridges my own recovery journey with my professional life, creating an opportunity to draw on both. This work spans critical areas like education, digital resources, clinical settings, recovery housing, justice, corrections, reentry, and research—each of which has the potential to change lives.
This initiative reflects a powerful shift—one that places people with lived experience at the center of the work. The SAMHSA Office of Recovery’s vision and commitment to the inclusion of lived experience at every level, from leadership to the steering committee, is inspiring and will be transformative for the field. We’re ready to get to work and excited to be a part of this movement!”
Get Involved with CARS
CARS invites individuals, organizations, and government entities to join this groundbreaking effort. Here’s how you can get involved:
Organizations: Partner with us to enhance your recovery programs through tailored training and technical assistance.
States and Government Entities: Collaborate with CARS to implement policies and programs that support recovery-ready systems.
Individuals: Explore professional development opportunities in the peer recovery workforce.