Background: For several years, the Community Caring Collaborative brought together partners across a variety of sectors to develop Recovery & Employment programming. These efforts aimed to connect community members who are in recovery from substance use disorders with employment opportunities and recovery supports in Washington County.
Partners engaged with the goals of strengthening the county-wide response to the complex challenges of substance use and its impacts and increasing individual and regional economic wellbeing through workforce participation.
Engaging local businesses to become key players in the county-wide response to the substance use challenges in Washington County is a was a major piece in the developing program by:
1) engaging and training local businesses on substance use disorders and impacts, existing treatment and recovery supports, and workforce resources available to support employment for individuals with substance use disorders and potentially related criminal records through a Recovery Friendly Workplace initiative.
2) designing programming to connect community members who are in recovery with employment opportunities and recovery supports in Washington County.
The Washington County Recovery Friendly Workplace Network (RFWN) was born out of this process. Developed through a collaborative, responsive, place-based approach supported by the Maine Community Foundation, a local design team of business leaders, human resource professionals, community members in recovery, the Maine Department of Labor, and public health staff created the framework of this newly launched Network.
Sunrise County Economic Council took a leadership role in creating and staffing the position of Downeast Community Catalyst, offering it to Dodie Emerson who has an extensive background in employment services. Dodie supports the RFWN as its Business Advisor, signing up member businesses, coordinating trainings, and promoting the program through a variety of outreach channels. SCEC’s Associate Director, Denise Cilley, co-led the design team and currently provides program coordination and oversight.
CCC’s Substance Use Response Coordinator, Abby Frutchey, co-led the design phase with Denise Cilley and currently provides much of the training for new Recovery Friendly Workplace member employers.
On January 24, 2024, the design team launched the Washington County Recovery Friendly Workplace Network with a virtual event for the public, partners and media. In early March, an in-person information session and celebration of early adopters of the Washington County Recovery Friendly Workplace Network was held at the Main Street Business Building in Machias.
The Recovery Friendly Workplace Network puts a strong emphasis on education, training, mentorship, recovery supports, whole family approaches, coaching and barrier removal to support ongoing recovery and career advancement.
The goal of this initiative is to reduce incidences of problematic alcohol and substance use and recidivism by opening doors for participants to reach their full potential through connection to employment and their communities. As community members reach employment goals, this program will also strengthen workforce participation in Washington County by filling jobs and expanding businesses.
The Washington County Recovery Friendly Workplace Network is an active partner in a coalition of hubs forming and connecting Maine’s Recovery Friendly Workplace Program.
For more information and to learn how you can become a member, visit the RFWN website or contact Dodie Emerson, RFW Business Advisor, at demerson@sunrisecounty.org or by phone at 207-271-2132.