Promoting Safe and Healthy Campus Environments

The GA Network, is a statewide organization and is committed to supporting colleges and universities in Georgia to support, educate and share resources working toward evidence based programs and effective standards aimed at reducing alcohol and other drug problems on the college campus.

The Georgia Network proactively addresses the issues of alcohol and other drugs in order to promote healthy campus environments.

Located in the heart of Georgia, Kennesaw State University’s Center for Young Adult Addiction  and Recovery hosts The Georgia Network Office. State coordinator, Teresa Wren Johnston strives to collaborate statewide by coordinating educational opportunities, training and forums for discussion of important AOD issues and concerns.

Membership in the GA Network is open to all institutions of higher education in the state of Georgia.

Join Georgia Network
georgia state flag
The Mission of the Georgia Network is to provide capacity, building services and leadership for alcohol and other drug prevention and education resources for institutions of higher education in the state of Georgia.
Our vision is to enable institutions of higher education in the state of Georgia to collaborate in initiatives that support safe and healthy environments which reduce the harm associated with alcohol and other drug abuse.

In May 2013 the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) released revised professional standards to provide direction for alcohol and other drug education programs in higher education. These standards serve as a best practice guide for any college or university addressing alcohol and other drug issues.

Alcohol and Other Drug Programs Standards and Guidelines

Standards include:

  • Policy
  • Education & Student Assistance
  • Enforcement
  • Assessment
  • Community Collaboration

Our Work

Collaboration and connection to others in the field is important so that we can all share our experience, strengths and our encouragement. As a statewide organization, we can address together these ever concerning substance issues on the college campus.

Working in the field with limited resources including staff and funds can create a very lonely and isolating experience for individuals. This collaboration will provide an opportunity for you to expand your knowledge expertise and enrich your practice and tools.

Goals

  1. Update and provide a directory of member colleges universities

  2. Develop a list serve to connect the community

  3. Share the current best practices in the state of GA through the network

  4. Provide a venue for sharing information and concerns laterally and vertically to state and federal resources to share current issues on the campus

  5. Offer low cost and free drive in workshops on current substance issues facing the higher education community

  6. Our work spans the continuum of care:

In the field of Alcohol and Other Drugs we recognize the need for a coordinated comprehensive Continuum of Care plan to address substance use in higher education. A full continuum of care includes:

  • Prevention - the act of preventing something, a hindrance. Obstacle or impediment

  • Education - the act or process of educating, the knowledge or skill obtained or developed by a learning process

  • Intervention - the systematic process of assessment and planning employed to remediate or prevent social, educational, or developmental problem

  • Treatment - The act, manner or method of handling or dealing with someone or something

  • Recovery - a return to a normal or healthy condition 

Contact

The Georgia Network is brought to you by Kennesaw State University State Coordinators.

Teresa Wren Johnston, MA, LPC, MAC
Director
Center for Young Adult Addiction and Recovery
(470) 578-2538

Email

Michael Polacek, B.S.
Assistant Program Coordinator
Center for Young Adult Addiction and Recovery
(470) 578-4949

Email