Recovery Friendly Workplace Network
Supporting Employers that Promote Wellness in Washington County, Maine
Recovery Friendly Workplaces promote wellness across work environments, with a focus on supporting needs associated with problematic alcohol and substance use, and recovery. Problematic alcohol and substance use do not only impact the individual. Employers, family members, and the community also experience the effects. The Washington County Recovery Friendly Workplace Network supports employers so they can support their employees.
Washington County Focused
In Washington County, recovery-friendly workplaces present a unique win-win for community members impacted by problematic substance and/or alcohol use and for employers faced with unprecedented recruitment and retention challenges. The intersection of “Can’t find help” and “Can’t find work” is reflected in the data, where civilian labor participation rates are low and substance and/or alcohol use disorders are related to numerous barriers to employment.
A county-wide Recovery Friendly Workplace Network will help people in recovery find essential employment opportunities that support their economic well-being and recovery journeys. At the same time, such a network will help employers hire and maintain workers, reduce costs, and continue to build thriving businesses and organizations. Altogether, we believe a Recovery Friendly Workplace Network will also reduce stigma related to substance and alcohol use disorders and address larger challenges of workforce participation and persistent poverty in Washington County. Working together with commitment from businesses, both large and small, this Network will also save lives.
Partners
The Community Caring Collaborative and Sunrise County Economic Council, with the assistance of a dedicated design team made up of local human resource managers, community with personal experience with substance use disorder and employment challenges, local business owners and managers, and representation from the Maine Department of Labor created a Recovery Friendly Workplace Network to assist Washington County employers in supporting existing employees and new hires who may be impacted by alcohol/substance use, or are in recovery. Many network design partners are also core partners who have banded together to support the Network into the future.
The Washington County Recovery Friendly Workplace Network is an active partner in a coalition of hubs informing and connecting Maine’s Recovery Friendly Workplace Program.