CarePlus NJ Awarded State Grant to Expand Workforce Re-entry Program

The New Jersey Department of Labor has awarded CarePlus NJ with a 1-year, $525,000 grant to help individuals impacted by the opioid epidemic re-enter the workforce.

CarePlus NJ, a provider of integrated primary and behavioral health services for adults and children, will expand its Pathways to Recovery (PTR) program for adults impacted by the opioid epidemic into Bergen County.

PTR provides employment assistance to individuals with a history of opioid use, as well as those who have a friend or family member with a history of opioid use. With the expansion into Bergen, the program is offered in 9 New Jersey counties. CarePlus NJ said in a news release that it aims to enroll 100 participants in Bergen County, providing assessments, registration, individual employment plans, and career and training services. The organization’s goal is to have 80% of employees placed into unsubsidized employment, and of those placed, have 60% retain employment for at least 90 days.

Funding from the Department of Labor grant will also be used to provide PTR program participants with job training for in-demand occupations to increase employment opportunities. Participants who identify as appropriate and interested in recovery services careers can engage in Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor coursework and/or Certified Peer Recovery Specialist certification with domain-specific core training approved by the state’s Addiction Professionals Certification Board.

“Several factors can make it difficult for individuals impacted by the opioid crisis to reenter the workforce including gaps in employment, limited professional experience, and other barriers such as lack of transportation, childcare services, and housing,” Giesel Girona-Ussery, associate vice president of work incentive services, CarePlus NJ, said in a news release.

“Our Pathways to Recovery program will provide adults affected by the opioid epidemic with the vocational training, career resources and supportive services they need to achieve competitive employment outcomes as well as wraparound access to addiction recovery services and mental health care to sustain their recovery and promote mental wellness.”

Reference

CarePlus NJ awarded $525,000 grant from NJ Department of Labor to launch Pathways to Recovery program for Bergen County adults impacted by opioid epidemic. News release. CarePlus NJ. March 1, 2022. Accessed March 7, 2022.