RUTGERS HEALTH AND NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR LAUNCH PARTNERSHIP TO EMPOWER WORKERS IN RECOVERY

Rutgers Health, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL), has launched the Pathways to Recovery website to help New Jersey residents impacted by the opioid crisis find employment opportunities in supportive workplaces and assist employers in becoming certified as Recovery-Friendly Workplaces. 

The website shares resources for individuals in recovery and employers, including links to organizations that help connect grantees with employers, application requirements for earning the Recovery-Friendly Workplace credential, and testimonials of individuals in recovery and success stories. 

“As New Jersey continues to address the opioid epidemic, it’s crucial that we create pathways to sustainable employment for those in recovery,” said Robert Asaro-Angelo, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. “NJDOL’s partnership with Rutgers Health has been vital to this effort, and the new Pathways to Recovery website is a critical tool for providing the resources and support needed to foster understanding and inclusivity in the workplace. Together, we can build a workforce that values and supports recovery, paving the way for healthier communities across New Jersey.” 

“Employment is fundamental for people to maintain their recovery. However, often there is fear or stigma related to employing people who are in recovery,” said Nina Cooperman, associate professor, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, who leads the project for Rutgers Health. “A recovery-friendly employer is knowledgeable about how to support their employees’ recovery long term as well as how to recognize if an employee has a substance use disorder and facilitate support.” 

The website is the latest initiative of Pathways to Recovery, a statewide program that supports New Jersey residents who have been impacted by the opioid crisis in securing stable, unsubsidized employment through training opportunities, supportive services, and career services.