CCAR Needs Volunteers

In 2005, CCAR made a conscious decision to move to an organizational culture that completely embraced volunteerism. We hired a full-time Volunteer Coordinator, and this person has been instrumental in CCAR's success. After researching many venues, we modeled our Volunteer Management System (VMS) afteCT Judicial Branch Community Service Program-Wheeler Clinicr large hospitals including applications, interviews, background checks, job descriptions, training, supervision, and celebration. Early on CCAR encountered some resistance to the idea of performing background checks on our volunteers. People argued that most of the people we work with and who were currently helping out with CCAR had a criminal record so they would be disqualified from volunteering. Management assured that this would not be the case. Long criminal histories could be viewed not as liabilities, but as resumes.

In 2009, 273 CCAR volunteers contributed 15,216.50 hours of service, with a richness of diversity and lived experience rarely found in non-profit agencies. At staff meetings, public presentations, and in conversations with the recovery community, we emphasize the importance of our volunteers, because an active volunteer force generates more positive results than paid staff can possibly accomplish alone. Recoverees not only gain from the collective wisdom of the CCAR volunteer force, but have the opportunity to become a CCAR volunteer as well, in accord with the time-honored recovery principle, “You can't keep it unless you give it away.”

As a result of the untiring efforts that the volunteers put forth, CCAR presented 34 Presidential Awards at our 2010 Volunteer Recognition Dinner. In addition, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal acknowledged the Presidential Award recipients with an Official Citation.