Flame of Hope

CaringWorks Care Coordinator Eric Smart was recently named a recipient of the Flame of Hope Award, presented by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The award recognizes individuals across Georgia whose work advances behavioral health and recovery.

For Eric, the recognition is deeply meaningful—but not individual.

“This recognition does not belong to me alone. It represents the collective power of recovery and the strength it takes to keep going, especially when no one believes in you.”

As a Deaf individual, Eric’s recovery journey came with extraordinary hurdles. Those experiences have shaped his commitment to building recovery services that are accessible, affirming, and led by Deaf experience.

“Deaf people deserve the same opportunities to work, heal, and thrive,” he said. “Too often, Deaf individuals in recovery are expected to adapt to systems that were never designed for them. That is not recovery—that is exclusion.”

Eric has made it his mission to advocate for inclusive services that work for Deaf individuals in practice, not just in policy.

“In my work, I have helped three Deaf peers obtain employment, and another is currently preparing for a job interview. This is not about personal achievement, it is about equity or even better yet, justice.”

While Eric acknowledges progress in expanding access and awareness, he sees the Flame of Hope Award as an opportunity to elevate what is still possible.

“Systems must be built around people—not processes, convenience, or compliance,” he said. “Recovery is possible, but only when people are truly seen, heard, and supported in ways that honor their language, culture, and humanity.”

Eric (center) with family (left) and peers (right), reflecting the community behind the work.

January 2026