$500K Investment Will Be Used to Assist Individuals in Recovery in SEI

Monday, January 29, 2024 at 9:30 AM

By The Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Board, news release

SEIWIB will utilize 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 Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA). DMHA has provided the regional nonprofit with $500,000 for community-driven initiatives that will address behavioral health workforce challenges in Southeast Indiana.

SEIWIB will utilize this funding to expand its Regional Substance Abuse Recovery System. The system’s primary goal is to build a regional peer recovery system that provides holistic employment and training programming for individuals in recovery. Peer 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 individuals in recovery who wish to give back to their community and help others through their recovery journey. SEIWIB’s long-time partner in building this system is Mental Health America of Indiana.

“This new investment from the Division of Mental Health and Addiction provides us with the opportunity to continue our work helping individuals in recovery, many of whom are also involved in the justice system and need and deserve a second chance,” said Kurt Kegerreis, Executive Director of SEIWIB. “Assisting individuals in recovery has been a priority of our organization since 2018, and this funding is critical to the sustainability of our Regional Substance Abuse Recovery System.”

This funding will also allow SEIWIB to implement a Registered Apprenticeship Program for Recovery Residence House Managers. This year-long program is a first-of-its-kind in the state and graduates will receive a Recovery Residence House Manager Certification. This program will empower house managers by providing them with the foundational skills they need to supervise, support, and coach 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, Southeast Indiana Workforce Board, and Ivy Tech, to develop a training program for recovery residence house managers,” stated Sherri Jewett, Executive Director of ASAP. “We are appreciative of the funding support provided by DMHA for this program as part of the Behavioral Health Workforce grant. The training program will result in improved outcomes for those that participate in recovery residence programs as well as provide employment opportunities for those in recovery.”

This funding was made available through the Behavioral Health Recruitment and Retention Innovation Grant Program, which DMHA administers. This grant was made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act funds and was authorized in the most recent state budget.

Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Board

Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Board is the Workforce Development Board for Bartholomew, Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland counties in Indiana. Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Board’s mission 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.

Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Board 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 Substance Abuse Progress

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 substantially 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 being productive, contributing members of their communities. Learn more at https://asapbc.org/.