A research team that includes Aaron Johnson, PhD, associate dean for research and community engagement at Augusta University’s School of Public Health, has received nearly $530,000 from the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts to support the Georgia Recovery-Ready Workplace Initiative (GROW). The project is designed to increase job opportunities for individuals recovering from substance use disorders and help employers in Georgia become more supportive of recovery in the workplace.
The two-year initiative is led by the Center for Addiction Recovery at Georgia Southern University. Johnson, who also directs the Institute of Public and Preventive Health within Augusta University’s School of Public Health, described GROW as “a model that bridges public health, workforce development and recovery support.” He added, “We are looking forward to working with Dr. Rob Bohler and his team at Georgia Southern and to continuing our long-term partnership with Georgia Council for Recovery and many of the RCOs who will be part of this project. Our team at Augusta University is proud to contribute to the evaluation of this innovative approach, which has the potential to be replicated nationwide.”
GROW is a collaboration among Georgia Southern University, the Georgia Council for Recovery (GC4R), and IPPH. The project is led by Robert Bohler, PhD, an assistant professor in Georgia Southern’s Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health and executive director of CAR. It will use a “hub-and-spoke” model: GC4R serves as the central hub while at least 10 local recovery community organizations across Georgia act as spokes engaging employers in both rural and urban areas.
“Stable employment is crucial for long-term recovery,” said Bohler. “This project will help individuals overcome employment barriers and equip employers with the knowledge and tools to create recovery-friendly environments.”
The initiative plans several actions:
– Hiring a full-time employment specialist dedicated to assisting individuals in recovery with job placement, vocational training, and overcoming legal or educational obstacles.
– Partnering with at least 10 large employers in becoming designated recovery-friendly workplaces.
– Providing comprehensive training on addiction science, stigma reduction, recovery-oriented policies, and benefits associated with hiring people in recovery.
– Developing a toolkit and website aimed at supporting ongoing education about recovery-friendly workplaces.
Georgia’s strong economic growth—marked by its status as home to 18 Fortune 500 companies—and focus on workforce development make it an appropriate setting for such an initiative.
Laurisa Guerrero, GC4R executive director, noted that substance misuse costs businesses in the United States over $81 billion each year. She stated: “This initiative supports both employees and the businesses that participate. By building bridges between businesses and the recovery community, we’re providing an added layer of support that many people desperately need.”
The GROW Initiative aims not only to improve individual outcomes but also expand access to meaningful work opportunities while serving as a possible national model for establishing recovery-friendly workplaces. Organizers are seeking additional employers across Georgia interested in participating.
