Sandy Valentine

Sandy is a person in long-term recovery and who is passionate about bringing recovery tools and practices to those seeking and in recovery from substance use disorders, and their families. As Executive Director of RI Communities for Addiction Recovery Efforts (RICARES), Rhode Island's recovery community organization, she combines her professional expertise with the wisdom gained from her personal journey and family experiences.
Before joining RICARES, Sandy led the collegiate recovery program at the University of Connecticut and was awarded the Association of Recovery in Higher Education's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 for her efforts. With over 30 years of experience leading operational, learning, and performance consulting teams for a Fortune 500 insurance carrier, Sandy brings a wealth of knowledge to her current role.
A Recovery Coach Professional since 2019, Sandy co-hosts the Recovery Matters! podcast, is a certified facilitator for CCAR's Recovery Coach Academy, and is a member of the International Association of Recovery Coach Professionals (IARCP). She earned her master's in social work from the University of Connecticut and is an LCSW in Rhode Island.