When Indiana Workforce Recovery (IWR) was launched in February 2018 to help combat the state’s drug and opioid epidemic, one of the primary goals was to make an impact.

Mission accomplished – but with much more work to do. First, some program numbers thus far:

  • 3,000: In-person education for employers on policies and practices to assist their employees
  • 1,000 plus (over six months): Downloads of employer guidelines developed in conjunction with the state and IWR-produced educational videos
  • 40,000 plus: Drug disposal kits distributed (with funding from the Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative (RALI) Indiana
  • 8 million: Unused prescription medications discarded

“While it’s important to track the numbers, the true progress is in lives impacted,” says Jennifer Pferrer, Wellness Council of Indiana (WCI) executive director. WCI teamed with the Indiana Chamber and Gov. Eric Holcomb’s administration to form IWR. “We’re proud of the work done thus far but truly looking forward to continuing to make a difference with our upcoming efforts.”

Indiana Workforce Recovery Director Mike Thibideau introduces the new partnership with Centerstone.

One of those initiatives was announced at a February 4 press conference. IWR is teaming with Centerstone, a mental health and addiction treatment services provider, on an exclusive partnership to make an award-winning recovery program available to employers statewide.

BizVoice® magazine featured Belden’s highly lauded Pathways to Employment program in its November-December 2019 issue. That was developed in partnership with Centerstone and its Workforce Investment Program. Now, many more can benefit from the treatment provider’s decades of work and Belden’s recent experiences.

Mike Thibideau, director of the IWR program, shares, “Today, more employers are willing to provide that second chance to these workers – they just need guidance to make that happen. That’s why we believe this exclusive partnership with Centerstone is a real game-changer for companies and their workforce – both in helping to turn lives around and to keep valued employees working.”

Separately, IWR will be conducting approximately a dozen additional Employer Opioid Strategy Sessions (under Upcoming Events) between March and May. These community outreaches include legal guidance on drug-free workplace policies, how to detect drug use among employees, stories of recovery and connections to local treatment and recovery efforts.

The first Indiana Opioid Summit will take place on June 18 at the Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center in Indianapolis. Ryan Leaf, former NFL quarterback and a leading behavioral health advocate, will be the keynote speaker in a daylong educational program.

IWR’s work is made possible through the support of these investors: Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, Community Health Network, Vectren Foundation, RALI, Parkview Health, St. Vincent Health, Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, CVS Health, IU Health and Cook Group.

Learn more at www.wellnessindiana.org/recovery.