connection
compassion
community
Caring Workplaces Rural Opportunities Initiative
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Substance abuse costs Tennessee an estimated $2 billion each year. The lost wages of about 31,000 Tennesseans who are out of work because of addiction account for more than half of that estimate.
(2017 University of Tennessee study).
The Caring Workplace Rural Opportunities Initiative is fully funded through two Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities (WORC) grants by the United States Department of Labor in the amounts of 1.3 and 1.5 million dollars awarded to the First Tennessee Development District. Coordinated by the First Tennessee Development District (FTDD) a regional group of community partners is building an ecosystem to support employers and individuals in recovery or justice-involved.
Our mission is to recruit, train and certify employers to become recovery friendly “Caring Workplaces” while also creating a pipeline of supported and work ready individuals in recovery from substance use disorder and or justice involvement. Thus, creating a healthy recovery, workforce ecosystem.
