Who We Are

A small and mighty team, we are leaders in aging and disability systems, collective impact, and guardianship. With over 150 years of combined expertise, our team brings deep knowledge and insight to everything we do.

Our Mission

Cares advances well-being, self-determination and community living with & for older adults and people with disabilities.

Our Vision

We envision a world where all older adults and individuals with disabilities experience dignity, choice, and community inclusion.

Our Story

Cares was formed in 1987 by UNC School of Social Work professor and researcher, Dr. Gary Nelson, DSW. Originally named the Center for Aging Research and Educational Services, Cares began with the goal of improving the lives of aging adults. Over time, Cares expanded our work to include adults with disabilities and their families and adjusted the use of our program name to no longer be an acronym, but rather a program focused on all adults (18+) with support needs. Since starting our work nearly forty years ago Cares has grown into a ten-person team that specializes in aging, disability, collective impact, research, program education and facilitation, communications, project coordination and management, and business development.

Cares is proud to be among a distinguished group of programs and centers within the UNC School of Social Work. Our work and mission align very closely with that of the UNC SSW: Advancing equity, transforming systems, and improving lives, and we keep this statement in mind as we work with the older adult population and adults with support needs.

Over the past forty years Cares has proudly worked with numerous businesses and organizations throughout the state of North Carolina and beyond. Since 1987, we have contracted with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) to evaluate programs, gather research and data, and develop educational materials and training. Our partnerships have grown to include several divisions within NCDHHS including the Division of Aging, Division of Social Services, Division of Health Operated Healthcare Facilities, the North Carolina Money Follows the Person Demonstration Project under NC Medicaid, and the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities. Cares is also the NC Affiliate for the Southeast Americans with Disabilities Center. We are honored to work alongside a growing number of Aging and Disability organizations and have become leaders in several areas such as, collective impact, guardianship, dementia friendly communities & hospitals; transitions to community living; and community-based services.

Our Values

Self-Determination

We believe all individuals have the right to make choices about how to live their lives and are entitled to the support and resources needed to live with dignity.

Collaboration

We believe that our impact is greatest when we work together. We facilitate partnerships between public and private agencies, communities, and people with lived experience, including families, to enhance the well-being of older adults and adults with disabilities.

Excellence

We strive for excellence in our services, ensuring our work is evidence-informed, timely, thorough, and responsive to our partners’ needs. We support service providers and systems to achieve the highest quality of care, and to achieve the best possible outcomes for older adults and adults with disabilities.

Culture of Care

We actively cultivate a culture of care by prioritizing relationships and belonging above all else. We believe in a world where every person feels valued, supported, and part of a community that cares about their well-being.