“Recovery from a substance use disorder requires support, guidance, and assistance addressing an individual’s physical, emotional, and financial needs. First and foremost, people need quality health care, including access to medication-assisted treatments and counseling to support both physical and mental well-being, comprising the foundation for SUD treatment. […] Living in a community with a high quality of life (including quality employment) improves overall well-being and life satisfaction and in turn reduces the likelihood of substance use disorder.” — Addressing Appalachia’s Substance Use Disorder Crisis Through Recovery-to-Work
Now that your region has a better understanding of employers’ recovery-to-work opportunities and needs, it’s time to consider where there are gaps in wraparound services, such as training, housing, and transportation. training and employment opportunities.
Step One: Identify organizations that deliver wraparound services in your region, and have not yet partnered on recovery to work efforts, such as:
- Transportation
- Treatment/Healthcare
- Food pantry
- Workforce services
- Legal services
- Local Government
Resources:
- Includes 8 dimensions of wellness
Step Two: Identify top opportunities to improve connections to wraparound services and expand existing pathways
- Referencing the previously completed stakeholder pathways tool, discuss as a group 2-4 immediate opportunities for expansion with new partnerships and/or resources identified in the first three phases.
- Group Exercise– What stakeholder pathways can be connected today at no additional cost?
- Case Study – learning academy member
- Degree of services – Identifying resources and pathways based on the intensity of the intervention.
Examples of improving connections include:
- Identifying an initial point of contact (for workers and jobseekers) to intake individuals and connect them to treatment and recovery resources/wraparound services
- Collectively developing procedures or resources for when a worker relapses or is close to it.
Resources:
- How (And Whether) to Tell Your Boss, Colleagues, Spouse, or Anyone Else About Your Substance Use Disorder
- When Employees Claim to Be Addicts—What, if Anything, Should Employers Do?
Step Three: Develop a plan to take action on top expansion opportunities to expand or better connect wraparound services
- SWOT Analysis: List all strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for proposed expansion proposals.
- What are TWO goals of the group to connect individuals in recovery to wraparound services and employment? What does it take to get there?
- How will employers be supported at every stage of these efforts? How will ongoing feedback be collected?
- Use documentation tool (finance sheet? Example grant application?) to determine what current services may qualify for grants or outside funding
Resources:
- Medicaid HCBS waiver has been expanded to support/ reimburse work or vocational rehabilitation expenses
- Developing a “recovery ready workplace” certification (pg. 34).
- Treatment center/recovery housing locators
- Public transit map that highlights participating employers.
- Information on SEIPS (Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety) (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351898033_SEIPS_101_and_seven_simple_SEIPS_tools)