Owen’s Story
Deputy Director,
Georgia Council on Substance Abuse
When I began working for Georgia Council on Substance Abuse in 2010, it was a very different organization in many ways. There were just three of us working here, and I began working part time, but we were doing the work of at least six full-time people. We put in the blood, sweat, and tears that define the origin of most grassroots non-profits. Those efforts enabled us to become the vibrant, growing organization we are today, with peer recovery supports growing across the state.
But there is one thing that has not changed, and that is what drew me to GCSA in the first place: Our Mission. I believe strongly in our mission, and it informs and guides not just the work we do with the public, but the way we work together as a team. We are individually and collectively committed to increasing the impact of recovery in Georgia.
For me, employment at GCSA is not just a job, it is a vocation. Things are different here. We utilize the values of CARES on a daily basis when making decisions: Diversity, Integrity, Hope, Commitment, Recovery, and Wellness are not just words we toss around. They are the guiding principles that inform how we interact with one another, and they make our workplace a space that welcomes recovery, that nurtures growth, and inspires hope.
If that seems like the kind of place you might like to work, please consider applying for one of the positions posted here. If you are not yet a CARES, please consider applying for the next CARES Academy. While being a CARES is not a requirement for employment, it provides GCSA staff with an excellent opportunity to get to know you and your strengths, in a way that a resume or interview cannot.
Owen Dougherty
Deputy Executive Director
Georgia Council on Substance Abuse
