History
The evolution of SAARA began with a group of individuals who responded to a sign-up sheet circulated at a Substance Abuse Awareness Week luncheon in Fairfax County, Virginia in November 1996.
After several preliminary meetings, the group drafted a mission statement, and shortly thereafter an attorney-consumer drafted the necessary incorporation papers. Incorporation as SAARA of Northern Virginia was obtained in 1997 and the organization received its non-profit 501 (c) (3) status in 1998. An early decision was made for SAARA to be as inclusive as possible.
Mobilizing the Recovery Community & Maintaining Authenticity of Voice
From its inception in 1997, SAARA has recruited, engaged, and retained significant numbers of families with children in treatment and Recovery, adults who were in Recovery and on the staff of organizations providing substance abuse treatment and prevention services, and members of recovery networks associated with alumni groups. Many original objectives and activities were designed to attract members from these populations within the recovery community and to improve outreach to minorities, the LGBTQIA+ community, pregnant and newly delivered women, individuals new to recovery, students and other populations underrepresented in the SAARA membership.
