The Story of CCAR Training The Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) became a global leader in recovery coach training from one powerful question: How can we better support people seeking help at our Recovery Community Centers? The Birth of the Recovery Coach Academy® In 2009, that question led to the creation of CCAR’s flagship program—the Recovery Coach Academy®. Designed to equip volunteers with the skills to support individuals in recovery, it quickly proved transformative. Participants left empowered, connected, and inspired to walk beside others with empathy, respect, and hope. What began in Connecticut soon spread nationwide and around the world. The model wasn’t just effective—it was revolutionary. Expanding Access To meet demand, CCAR launched the Training of Trainers (TOT) program, allowing organizations to bring Recovery Coach Academy to their own communities. This expansion marked a new vision: professionalizing recovery coaching and maintaining its integrity across all systems of care. Setting the Standard By 2012, as Connecticut explored a state-level Certified Addiction Recovery Coach credential, CCAR helped define the foundational competencies of recovery coaching—known as the CCAR Three-Legged Stool: Listen actively Ask good questions Manage your own stuff These pillars uphold the seat of the stool: treat each person as their own best resource. A Comprehensive Approach Recognizing that one training alone doesn’t make a coach, CCAR developed eight advanced courses covering ethics, boundaries, and specialized peer support in clinical, correctional, and youth settings. Together, they form a complete professional development pathway for recovery coaches. Global Impact To date, CCAR has trained more than 110,000 recovery coaches, facilitators, and trainers across the U.S., tribal nations, and internationally. Its model is now the gold standard for peer support in recovery centers, hospitals, courts, and behavioral health systems. Today, CCAR stands as a global force for change—redefining peer support, uplifting recovery voices, and setting the benchmark for recovery coach training rooted in compassion, integrity, and skill. And we’re just getting started.
