Skip to main content


Appalachian Regional Commission

          
CLOSE
        Appalachian Region
              Data Overview of the Appalachian Region
                      Appalachian States
                      Appalachian Counties Served by ARC
                      County Economic Status and Distressed Areas in Appalachia
                      Tribal Communities in the Appalachian Region
                      Congressional Districts in Appalachia
                      Local Development Districts in Appalachia
      Investment Priorities
              Building Businesses
                      Workforce Ecosystems
                              Addressing Substance Use Disorder
                      Community Infrastructure
                              Transportation in Appalachia
                      Regional Culture and Tourism
                      Community Leaders and Capacity
                              READY Appalachia
                      Investments in Action
      Grants and Opportunities
              About ARC Grants
                              Match Requirements for ARC Grants
                      Funding Opportunities
                              Area Development ProgramOpen
                                      ARISE InitiativeOpen
                                      INSPIRE Initiative
                                      POWER InitiativeOpen
                                      WORC InitiativeOpen
                      Capacity Building Opportunities
                              Academies and Institutes
                                      READY Appalachia
                      Additional Opportunities
                              Access to Capital Program
                                      Appalachian Regional Energy Hub Initiative
                                      J-1 Visa Waiver Program
                                      Local Access Road Program
                      Contract Opportunities
                      Applicant Resources
                      Grantee Resources
                      Approved ARC Projects
      Research and Data
              Research Reports
                      Evaluations
                      Maps
                      Data Report Tool
                      Fact Sheets and Infographics
      Academies and Institutes
              Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative
                      Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy
                      Appalachian Leadership Institute
                      Appalachian STEM Academy
      About ARC
              History and Work
                      Structure and Leadership
                              ARC Offices & Staff
                                      State Partners
                                      Local Development Districts
                                      Office of Inspector General
                      Budget, Performance, and Policy
                      Newsroom
                      Careers at ARC
                      Internships at ARC
      SearchSearch
    Search

              Events
      Newsroom
      Get ARC Updates
      Inspector GeneralFacebook
      Twitter
      Youtube
      LinkedIn You are here
    HomeNewsroomNewsARC Accepts Substance Abuse Advisory Council Recommendations for Strengthening Regional Recovery Ecosystems

      	
	
ARC Accepts Substance Abuse Advisory Council Recommendations for Strengthening Regional Recovery Ecosystems
	
			September 4, 2019
                **Media Contact:**
											Wendy WassermanHealth and Substance Use DisorderPress Release
	
				
			Strategies include developing community playbooks, model workforce training programs, employer toolkits, and community navigation programs
	
	
	**ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, Sept. 4, 2019**—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) accepted the Substance Abuse Advisory Council (SAAC) final Report of Recommendations outlining proposed steps for supporting a robust recovery ecosystem in Appalachia. These recommendations target the ARC recovery-to-work ecosystem model, and include:
Developing a recovery ecosystem model that addresses stakeholder roles and responsibilities as part of a collaborative process that develops infrastructure and operations, and fund deployment of local planning and implementation of the model, and examine funding models to sustain the recovery ecosystem.Developing and disseminating a playbook of solutions for communities addressing common ecosystems gaps and services barriers.Developing model workforce training programs that incorporate recovery services with appropriate evaluation measures.Convening experts to develop and disseminate an employer best practices toolkit to educate employers and human resource experts in recruiting, selecting, managing, and retaining employees who are in recovery.Funding local liaison positions across Appalachia responsible for promoting a recovery ecosystem by building bridges between employers, workforce development agencies, and recovery organizations, and disseminating an employer best practices toolkit.“This report, the result of excellent work by the ARC Substance Abuse Advisory Council, is informed and inspired by the people of the Appalachian Region, who have been especially impacted by the substance abuse epidemic in our country,” said ARC Federal Co-Chairman Tim Thomas. “I am proud not only of the innovative and necessary recommendations they have produced, but of the transparent and participatory process by which they reached their conclusions. Their effort proves that effective leadership begins at the community level. I accept their recommendations, thank the Commission for doing the same, and will seek to begin addressing them with our state partners in future ARC programs.”
In May, 2019, ARC seated the Substance Abuse Advisory Council (SAAC), a 24-member volunteer group of leaders from recovery services, health, economic development, private industry, education, state government, law enforcement, and other sectors representing each of the Region’s 13 states. ARC charged the Advisory Council to develop concrete guiding recommendations to ARC for addressing the workforce impacts of Appalachia’s substance abuse epidemic.
Many of the recommendations’ key themes were drawn from six Recovery-to-Work Listening Sessions hosted by ARC December, 2018–April, 2019. ARC formally accepted the SAAC’s recommendations today during the Commission’s annual business meeting in Asheville, North Carolina. The recommendations will be discussed during ARC’s 2019 Annual Summit *Appalachia Strong: Prosperity, Progress, Growth*, also taking place in Asheville this week.
Additional information about ARC’s current portfolio of work in regards to the Region’s substance abuse crisis is available at www.arc.gov/substanceabuse.

**About the Appalachian Regional Commission**
The Appalachian Regional Commission (www.arc.gov) is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. Appalachian Regional Commission

          About ARC Grants
      Grants and Opportunities
      Newsroom
      Contract Opportunities
      Contact ARC
      Careers

  Get ARC News and Updates
    
    
                
  Sign Up Here
    Web and Privacy Policy