SEIWIB will use this funding to expand its regional substance abuse recovery system.
(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – The Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Board (SEIWIB) is pleased to announce the receipt of funding from the Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) of the Indiana Family and Human Services Administration. DMHA awarded the regional nonprofit $500,000 for community-led initiatives that will address behavioral health workforce challenges in Southeast Indiana.
SEIWIB will use this funding to expand its regional substance abuse recovery system. The primary goal of the system is to build a regional partnered recovery system that provides holistic employment and training programming for individuals in recovery. Recovery coaches continue to be a critical need for healthcare employers in Southeast Indiana, and demand is growing by as much as 20 percent over the next decade. This career opportunity is often a good fit for people in recovery who want to give back to their community and help others during their recovery. A longtime partner of SEIWIB in building this system is Mental Health America of Indiana.
“This new investment from the Division of Mental Health and Addiction allows us to continue our work helping people in recovery, many of whom are also involved in the justice system and need and deserve a second chance,” said Kurt Keggereis, Executive director Director of SEIWIB. “Helping people recover has been a priority for our organization since 2018, and this funding is critical to the sustainability of our regional substance abuse recovery system.”
This funding will also enable SEIWIB to implement a registered apprenticeship program for managers of recovery homes. This year-long program is the first of its kind in the state, and graduates will be certified as a Recovery House Manager. This program will empower house managers by providing them with the essential skills they need to supervise, support and train residents effectively. SEIWIB’s partners for this new apprenticeship program are Ivy Tech and the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress (ASAP) Bartholomew County.
“ASAP was excited to work with Bartholomew County Recovery Residence providers, the Southeast Indiana Workforce Board and Ivy Tech to develop a training program for recovery home managers,” said Sherri Jewett, ASAP Executive Director. “We are grateful for the financial support provided by DMHA for this program as part of the Behavioral Health Workforce Grant. The training program will lead to improved outcomes for those participating in residential recovery programs as well as provide employment opportunities for those in recovery.
This funding was provided through the Behavioral Health Recruitment and Retention Innovation Grant Program, which DMHA administers. This grant was made possible through funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and was approved in the latest state budget.
Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Board
The Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Board is the workforce development board for Bartholomew, Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley and Switzerland in Indiana. The mission of the Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Council is to help Hoosiers in Southeast Indiana find and grow in careers that are productive and fulfilling, and to help employers find the qualified personnel they need to be successful.
The Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Council is committed to equitable workforce solutions. This includes serving underrepresented populations, including individuals in recovery and justice-involved individuals and their families. Learn more at www.southeastindianaworkforce.com.
Alliance for Advances in Substance Abuse
With an initial focus on opioids, ASAP is working to develop and implement a data-driven system focused on substance abuse prevention, early intervention, treatment, recovery, and enforcement that significantly reduces the prevalence of substance use disorder (SUD ) in Bartholomew County and surrounding areas and helps those with SUD achieve recovery and become or return to productive, contributing members of their communities. Learn more at https://asapbc.org/.
