In early 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy’s Program Evaluation and Research Unit, launched a dynamic five-part training series designed to empower care coordinators, recovery specialists, and other treatment professionals.
This comprehensive program explores research-backed insights into how employment can serve as a catalyst for lasting recovery. Participants learn practical strategies to motivate and engage clients, helping them integrate employment into their recovery journey with confidence and purpose.
Ready to enhance your approach and support clients in building a future of stability and success? Dive into the training series today.
Our Mission
We are committed to ensuring that individuals in recovery experience the full spectrum of health and well-being benefits made possible through employment and financial security. By equipping recovery coaches, care coordinators, certified recovery specialists, and other recovery support professionals with the tools and strategies to enhance employment-focused support, we make employment a foundational pillar of the recovery journey—empowering individuals to rebuild their lives with stability, purpose, and hope.
Our beliefs
Guiding Principles
- Each participant is a valuable resource in bridging employment and recovery.
- Gaining and maintaining employment can be a powerful motivator and stabilizer in the recovery journey.
- Professionals working with those with substance use disorder (SUD) can inspire meaningful, sustainable engagement among clients and foster a healthier, more inclusive labor market.
Benefits to providers
- Learn strategies to help clients use employment for long-term recovery success.
- Gain insights into fostering recovery-friendly practices and strengthening support networks.
- Explore real-world case studies to understand employment barriers and practical solutions.
- Access tools, techniques, and research-backed approaches for integrating employment into treatment.
benefits to clients and the community
- Clients gain access to trained providers who connect them with job training and employment resources for financial and personal stability.
- Receive meaningful support in readiness, skill-building, and vocational training to foster motivation and long-term recovery.
- Equip participants to advocate for inclusive, stigma-free environments that recognize recovery as a valuable asset.
- Strengthen communities by expanding recovery-focused employment, reducing costs, and building a resilient workforce.
Training Topics
- Fundamentals of Employment in Recovery: This session covers the role of employment in substance use disorder recovery, the research linking employment to improved recovery outcomes, and successful case studies of skill-building initiatives.
- Skill Development and Vocational Training: This session introduces evidence-based practices for assessing the needs and skills of individuals in recovery, along with strategies for accessing vocational training and skill development. It will also cover methods for connecting participants with job training programs and resources and share best practices to keep clients motivated and engaged with employment services.
- Building Partnerships and Community Integration: This session provides an overview of the importance of employment in substance use treatment and recovery, introduces evidence-based practices for assessing the needs and skills of individuals in recovery, and shares strategies for connecting them with relevant job training programs and resources. Additionally, it will explore methods to support both the internal workforce and the broader community.
- Introduction to PA CareerLink®: This session introduces PA CareerLink, Pennsylvania's employment and training resource. It offers job search tools, career counseling, skills assessments, and training programs to help job seekers connect with employers and enhance their employability.
- Guiding Clients to Opportunities or Connecting individuals to the PA CareerLink®: This session explores key customer service strategies for employment services, emphasizing client satisfaction and service outcomes. It covers collaboration with external agencies, navigation techniques for case managers, and the governance structure of Career Link to enhance service delivery. Participants will also learn methods for connecting clients with essential resources, with insights from real-life experiences shared in videos.
Training Materials
What Our Trainees Say
I love being able to learn more about the importance of peer supports in the workplace and in the recovery community to help people in their employment/career journey.
Credits:
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