A Grant-funded Program Offered by Perry County Job and Family Services
Finding good, dedicated employees can be tough, no matter the industry. Employers participating in the RFW program will be paired with people that want to work, who want to be contributing members of society, and who want to support themselves, their families, and their community.
Did You Know?
- Perry County has approximately 16,000 people in its workforce; PBHC currently has 900 clients with some form of substance abuse disorder
- Drug Court reports a 75-80% success rate when people are able to obtain active employment and remain employed
- Programs like the Perry Co JFS Recovery-Friendly Workplace Program, their recovery after care program, and other similar programs provide people with the skills they need and opportunities to become productive, contributing members of society who want to work
Building a Recovery-Friendly Workplace
Recovery-friendly workplaces support their communities by recognizing recovery from substance abuse disorder (SUD) as a strength, and by willing to work intentionally with people in recovery. These workplaces encourage a healthy and safe environment where employers, employees, and communities can collaborate to create positive change and eliminate barriers for those affected by addiction.
Recovery
Recovery begins when a person regains control over their opioid use disorder (OUD) or SUD and begins to live a healthy, productive life. It is important to remember that:
- Recovery is a personal journey, just as unique as individual SUDs. One person’s recovery may differ dramatically from another’s recovery.
- Relapse is often a natural part of recovery. Recovering from an OUD or SUD may include making significant lifestyle changes that can be difficult to maintain. People with SUDs may relapse one or more times before recovery becomes long-term.
An important component of a successful recovery is gainful employment. Being employed offers the opportunity to make progress toward realization of goals, improved family and social relationships, rebuilding financial stability, restoration of self-confidence, and a contribution to society among many other benefits.
The Role Employers Can Play
Employers play an important role in helping employees in recovery by embracing people with SUDs. Doing so prevents feelings of stigma and isolation, and greatly improves employees’ chances of recovery. A supportive workplace environment can also help prevent relapse.
Employees who are in recovery have equal or lower health care costs, absenteeism, and job turnover compared to employees who never report an SUD. Employers who help employees complete treatment are likely to see a high return on investment when working with employees throughout treatment to achieve recovery. Supporting employees in recovery creates clear reasons and culture for job satisfaction and loyalty in the workforce.
People in recovery often have a high degree of self-awareness, resilience, compassion, dedication, and understanding. These skills and behaviors should be valued by employers due to the positive impacts the employee can have on team, company, and culture.