Five Steps to Address Regional Workforce Challenges Surrounding the Substance Use Disorder Crisis
November 7, 2024Substance Use Disorder (SUD) has impacted nearly every community across the United States. Few regions, however, have felt the brunt of this impact as strongly as Appalachia. According to our partners at the Appalachia Regional Commission, overdose-related mortality rates for people ages 25–54 in 2021 was 72 percent higher in Appalachia than the rest of the country.
To address the SUD crisis, the ARC hired CREC (through its Development District Association of Appalachia network) to create a Recovery to Work Ecosystem Builder’s Guide. This innovative guide helps LDDs and various stakeholders develop holistic support systems to address preparation for employment, housing, and transportation needs for individuals in recovery.
There are five phases in building an ecosystem for your region:
- Defining Your Ecosystem: collaboration is critical in building effective recovery-to-work ecosystems. By bringing together diverse organizations and services, ecosystem champions can better support individuals in recovery from substance use disorder, underscoring the need for strategic planning and leadership to create strong regional ecosystems.
- Getting Organized: move from vision to action in organizing regional stakeholders for a comprehensive recovery-to-work ecosystem. After initial connections with other organizations, convene a broader group to identify gaps and collaboration opportunities within the regional ecosystem. By addressing these issues early on, you can lay the groundwork for effective engagement with employers and other key stakeholders.
- Preparing People and Companies: shift the focus to understanding the needs of both job-seeking individuals in recovery and employers in the region. By collaborating with ecosystem partners, practitioners should aim to identify candidates for employment and facilitate connections with suitable job opportunities. Engage in discussions with companies about hiring individuals in recovery prompts ideas for enhancing workplace support and policies.
- Support Continued Success: sustaining long-term success requires comprehensive support. Research highlights the strong correlation between employment and recovery outcomes, emphasizing the need for integrated services. Expanding partnerships becomes imperative to address these needs, especially in rural areas, emphasizing the collaborative effort required for long-term success.
- Sustainability: the focus now shifts to ensuring sustainability within the recovery-to-work ecosystem. Regular meetings of ecosystem champions can serve as a platform to identify gaps, explore opportunities, and discuss strategies for long-term viability. It’s crucial to leverage both local and external resources, including government entities, foundations, businesses, and educational institutions, to sustain ongoing efforts.
By leveraging the ARC’s Recovery to Work Builder’s Guide, you can start creating and sustaining an ecosystem that values all your citizens and creates a more prosperous future for your region.
If you want to learn how your region can tackle its complex workforce and economic development challenges, email Brendan Buff, Director of Rural Development, at bbuff@crec.net.