Shapiro Launches Series to Address the Impact of the Opioid Crisis on the Workforce

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry has announced the launch of the “Recovery Coach Workforce Education Series,” a partnership with the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy’s Program Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU) to address workforce challenges caused by the opioid crisis.

The comprehensive five-part virtual training series is intended for care coordinators and professionals working in treatment and recovery services. The program will prepare participants with evidence-based strategies to integrate employment services into the recovery process.

This initiative is part of L&I’s broader strategy to address the impact of the opioid crisis on Pennsylvania’s workforce, including developing the healthcare workforce, providing employment support at various stages of recovery, and helping employers in supporting people in recovery.

“The opioid crisis has had a profound impact on our workforce, and it is critical that we approach this challenge holistically through programs like the Recovery Coach Workforce Education Series,” said Nancy A. Walker, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. “By giving care coordinators and recovery professionals the tools to guide their clients into meaningful employment, we don’t just focus on the immediate needs of staff – we contribute to long-term recovery success and build stronger, more resilient communities across Pennsylvania .”

The training series will primarily focus on Pennsylvania’s 45 Centers of Excellence (CoEs), state opioid treatment hubs and other community recovery centers. This initiative builds on existing partnerships with the PA Department of Human Services and leverages federal funding from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Statewide Set-Aside funds to address the opioid crisis.

“The Shapiro administration is taking a multidisciplinary approach to the opioid crisis and this partnership is another example of that,” said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones. “We look forward to seeing the results of this new partnership that the Ministry of Labor and Industry has forged as it will tackle the critical work of workplace stigmatization head-on.”

Interested individuals can register for and courses will begin in December and run through April 2025.

This series is 100% supported with federal WIOA funding of $150,000.