Washington, D.C. – Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) spoke at the first-ever Joel Hernandez Voice of the Recovery Community Award reception today honoring Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR). The award, given by Faces & Voices of Recovery, honors the most outstanding recovery community organization in the nation for its innovations and achievements.

"Faces & Voices of Recovery understands how important these organizations are within their communities and to the millions of people they serve across the nation," says Pat Taylor, Executive Director for Faces & Voices of Recovery. "It's very important for people in recovery and their family members to engage in our nation's civic life. They are demonstrating that people in long-term recovery from addiction and their families make our nation stronger and healthier."

Recovery community organizations mobilize the recovery community to advocate for services and policies that support people seeking recovery, their families and friends. CCAR operates four recovery community centers across Connecticut, providing a wide range of services including support groups, personal coaching, family support, social events, educational programming, recovery housing and advocacy opportunities.

"I'm alive and sober today because of the access I had to treatment and the fellowship of recovering people over the past 26 years," said Rep. Ramstad.  "I am living proof that treatment works and recovery is real.  That's why we've been fighting to break down barriers to treatment for the millions of Americans suffering the ravages of addiction.  Every person struggling with addiction deserves the same access to treatment that Members of Congress have."

Representative Ramstad and Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) joined over 200 sponsors to pass the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year. Negotiations are underway with the Senate on the bill.

"In addition to providing much needed support services, recovery community organizations like Rhode Island CARES in my own state are helping to erase the stigma associated with addiction for people still struggling and their families; their advocacy is making it possible for more Americans to get the help they need and enjoy long-term recovery," says Rep. Kennedy.

Faces & Voices of Recovery is a national network of over 20,000 individuals and organizations, working to change public perceptions of recovery, promote effective public policy, and demonstrate that recovery is working for millions of Americans. The reception will also highlight Faces & Voices' non-partisan civic engagement campaign, Recovery Voices Count.

"Individuals in long-term recovery can lead healthy and productive lives because of the contributions of organizations like CCAR," says Taylor. "Through their telephone recovery support program, CCAR places weekly calls to new recoverees in Connecticut every week for 12 weeks.  During the last year alone, CCAR has mobilized Connecticut's recovery community to volunteer over 10,000 hours of service to support people seeking or in long-term recovery. They have served over 2,500 individuals in the last two and a half years," says Taylor.

The awards reception took place at Spriggs & Hollingsworth, 1350 I St., NW, Washington, D.C. Additional information on Joel Hernandez and CCAR is available at www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org.