Georgia's CARE-NETs are Leaders in Supporting Family and Professional Caregivers in their communities.
 

Beginning in the 1990s, the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) developed the CARE-NET (Caregivers Network) program as a unique coalition of caregiver support organizations across a broad array of illnesses and disabilities. The coalitions involved leaders and advocates from community and state agencies, private corporations and churches together with family caregivers in the same planning process.

The creation of 12 community CARE-NET coalitions, one in each Area Agency on Aging district in Georgia, has been supported by grants from the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Administration on Aging. These active and ongoing coalitions are highly suited to address the major needs of all caregivers. CARE-NET coalitions provide ongoing assessment of community resources, identify and remedy gaps in services, share information and resources among agencies, develop strategies for complementary professional and family caregiver activities, and offer caregiver education. Today, this caregiver network represents a unique resource in the state of Georgia and one of the most promising opportunities for developing comprehensive caregiver supports anywhere in the country.

CARE-NETs serve many functions. In particular, they:

1. Link professional and family caregivers in a supportive community concerned with caregiving.
2. Identify and study community caregiving strengths and needs.
3. Develop effective services and educational programs for caregivers.
4. Organize community-based forums for public feedback on caregiving issues.
5. Develop a resource capacity for information on caregiving.
6. Provide a source of support for caregivers.
7. Foster strong relationships among community leaders concerned about Caregivers
8. Provide a forum for agencies and stakeholders to work collaboratively, coordinating human and fiscal resources.
9. Educate the community about caregiving.
10. Identify policy issues and advocate on behalf of Caregivers.
11. Work to assure Quality Care in their communities.

The following agencies, along with family caregivers, currently participate in the Northwest Georgia CARE-NET:

The Northwest Georgia CARE-NET also proudly serves as the Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) Coalition in this region.