Our History:

NET Training Institute was founded in 1996 to meet the training needs of the Florida Network on Addictions begun in the 1980’s.

The “NET”, founded by Ron Ross, is a grassroots fellowship of Christian lay ministries devoted to recovery support by helping alcoholics, drug addicts and their families, prisoners and ex-offenders, the homeless, as well as church members struggling with life controlling problems.

The first priority of the “NET” is always to NURTURE, EQUIP and TRAIN the front line workers.

Ministries range from residential substance abuse regeneration programs, half-way houses, feeding programs, street ministries, to lay counseling and Christ-centered 12 step programs. Florida has a rich heritage of such “mercy missions.” Many trace their roots or inspiration to Dunklin Memorial Camp, a men’s residential program located in Okeechobee, Florida, founded by Mickey and Laura Maye Evans in 1963.

NTI served over 1,000 students in its first 7 years. NTI has hosted students from India, Finland, Ghana, Africa, Ireland, and from Central and South America. NTI’s addiction curriculum meets international standards for several certifications boards thereby providing our foreign students with a truly unique training opportunity.

Students come to NTI with different goals:

• Personal enrichment, recovery and restoration of joy
• Training for lay counseling & ministry leadership
• Career advancement through professional certification

Historically the Christian church has been part of the safety net of society. Generations have looked to the church to comfort the needy with food, clothing, and shelter as well as provide disaster relief, orphanages, schools, and hospitals.

It is natural for Christians to be called to relieve the suffering created by addiction and substance abuse and to be involved in all levels of counseling from prayer ministry, lay counseling and pastoral care to professional certification and licensure by governmental agencies.

NTI’s parent organization, Overcomers of Brevard (Renamed NET Ministries), was the 279th “DAILY POINT OF LIGHT” recognized by President George Bush in 1990.

In response to increasing interest by governmental agencies, NTI has become a catalyst for faith based training in Florida and other states that aims to identify and encourage faith-based organizations and networks to provide critical services throughout the continuum of care in the substance abuse field.

NTI has served on national level for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration which is under the Department of Health and Human Services of the US government. Dr. Jean LaCour has been on SAMHSA’s steering committee for its “Partners for Recovery” Initiative. She has served as faculty for technical assistance and consultation during the “Access To Recovery” grant application process regarding outreach to faith-based organizations.

ATR’s voucher program is designed to increase the number of people getting help and allows qualified faith based organizations to provide eligible services for voucher clients to choose from. “Access To Recovery” expands the substance abuse field to include “Recovery Support Services” which are often provided through classic Christian compassion and faith-based recovery ministries.

NTI’s global commitment is expressed through service on the Leadership Council of ISAAC, the International Substance Abuse and Addiction Coalition whose members come from over thirty nations. NTI has provided training and CEU capability at each of ISAAC’s global gatherings. Since 1996, NTI has provided training in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kerghistan, India, Egypt, Pakistan, Columbia, South America, Spain, Switzerland, England, Sweden and Bermuda.