D5 - Recovery to Work Ecosystem: Building a Bridge to a Healthy Workforce

Rural areas have experienced a drastic decrease in the available workforce, which is of special concern in light of the limitations for individuals with a substance use challenge. Working to sustain a healthier workforce is crucial to how peers seek and maintain employment. Prior efforts have focused on job attainment and seeking which often stop once an individual starts work. We will explore an ecosystem that supports individuals and employers through community outreach, service attainment and educational resources. Working to build interconnected, responsive and recovery-focused partnerships create a pipeline from treatment to employment and long-term sustainability.