Supporting Employers that Promote Wellness in Washington County, Maine
Helping People in Recovery
find essential employment opportunities that support their economic well-being and recovery journeys.
Helping Employers
hire and maintain workers, reduce costs, and continue to build thriving businesses and organizations.
Strengthening Communities
by supporting workplaces that encourages wellness and recovery – for employees and their families.
Network Members
What is a Recovery Friendly Workplace?
Recovery Friendly Workplaces:
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Create Connections to Resources and Services
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Support Workplace Culture that Encourages Wellness and Recovery
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Encourage Open Communication that Supports Mutual Success
Quote from the president of A.C. Inc., Patrick Robinson.
Benefits of the Recovery Friendly Workplace Network
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Employee retention, valued at $8,500/year
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Work Opportunity Tax Credit up to $9,600 per eligible new hire
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Access to RFW advisor
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Employer training & stipends
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Listing on statewide job boards for increased workforce visibility
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Matchmaking with prepared workforce
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Connection to other employers in the network
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Recognition as a recovery-friendly employer with a designated indicator
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Workplace wellness
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Connection to and navigation assistance with needed resources
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Quarterly WashCo RFW newsletter
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Trainings to share with team & network
How Does the RFW Network Make a Difference?
Recovery Friendly Workplaces promote wellness across work environments, with a focus on supporting needs associated with problematic alcohol and substance use, and recovery. Problematic alcohol and substance use do not only impact the individual. Employers, family members, and the community also experience the effects. The Washington County Recovery Friendly Workplace Network supports employers so they can support their employees.
At the employer-to-employer event in March 2024, partner organizations, design team members and support of the Washington County Recovery Friendly Workplace Network.
Washington County Focused
In Washington County, recovery-friendly workplaces present a unique win-win for community members impacted by problematic substance and/or alcohol use and for employers faced with unprecedented recruitment and retention challenges. The intersection of “Can’t find help” and “Can’t find work” is reflected in the data, where civilian labor participation rates are low and substance and/or alcohol use disorders are related to numerous barriers to employment.
A county-wide Recovery Friendly Workplace Network will help people in recovery find essential employment opportunities that support their economic well-being and recovery journeys. At the same time, such a network will help employers hire and maintain workers, reduce costs, and continue to build thriving businesses and organizations. Altogether, we believe a Recovery Friendly Workplace Network will also reduce stigma related to substance and alcohol use disorders and address larger challenges of workforce participation and persistent poverty in Washington County. Working together with commitment from businesses, both large and small, this Network will also save lives.
Become a Washington County Recovery Friendly Workplace
There is no-cost to join and be a member of the Recovery Friendly Workplace Network. Click the button below to securely submit a letter of interest. Once received, an advisor from the network will contact you to follow-up and answer any questions you may have.
For More Information:
Dodie Emerson
Downeast Community Catalyst
207-271-2132
demerson@sunrisecounty.org
The Community Caring Collaborative and Sunrise County Economic Council, with the assistance of a dedicated design team made up of local human resource managers, community with personal experience with substance use disorder and employment challenges, local business owners and managers, and representation from the Maine Department of Labor created a Recovery Friendly Workplace Network to assist Washington County employers in supporting existing employees and new hires who may be impacted by alcohol/substance use, or are in recovery. Many network design partners are also core partners who have banded together to support the Network into the future.
The Washington County Recovery Friendly Workplace Network is an active partner in a coalition of hubs informing and connecting Maine’s Recovery Friendly Workplace Program.