Samantha Lewandowski, MS – NH Governor’s Recovery-Friendly workplace Initiative.
- Overview
Launched March, 2018 to promote health safety and wellness of workplaces and communities. Provides support for those in recovery, those who have fallen away from recovery, those impacted by a close person’s struggle with addiction. Tools and information for employers.
Lewandowski stated that they start with workplaces examining their current environment for folks in recovery. Many businesses might not know that they may already employ folks somewhere in the recovery process.
Process: They have a checklist to guide the process. Starts with orientation for businesses. Then employers give information to employees, participate in education and training. Recover-Friendly staff help to review employer’s policies, etc. Outcomes are that employees would know where to go for help; and could name resources available to then.
- Partnerships
NH Gov’s Office – Dept of Business and Economic Affairs -- Advisory Council. They are working with businesses having a total of 70,000 employees, also with 13 public health networks and many recovery organizations.
Recovery-Friendly helps businesses become certified as recovery-friendly workplaces. Headrest has a grant to do some work.
Another partner are the staff manning the 211 Help Line, the mental health emergency phone line to “The Doorway.” Navigators can help those in need with information, referral and other tools.
www.NHrecoveryhub.org is a place to learn about recovery organizations. Center for Recovery Resources in our area is in Claremont. Headrest is a partner: 24-hour crisis line, opportunities for work program.
Headrest, Hypertherm and Recovery-Friendly Workplace – have worked with Jake’s Market. Headrest offers supports to the workplace: orientations, information, working with person and business to learn.
(M)LADAC – Masters-licensed alcohol and drug addiction counselor works 2 days a week during the pilot program. She is a trained clinician who works directly with the individual, helps connect that person to various supports and resources, sometimes she can get involved directly with counseling even before a plan is in place.
- Case Study
Genfoot America (manufacturer of boots in Littleton) – started as early adaptor of the initiative. They are now a leader connecting with other workplaces. Benefits they have seen: 5 employees have come forward; Genfoot has hired from local recovery homes – 2 are now shift leaders; Helping Hand Committee monitors progress of the program; some analytic results seem to indicate decreases in injuries, lost days and light duty days.
QUESTIONS
Bill Secord – particular categories of businesses you work with?
Sam – yes NFPs, hospitality and manufacturing are the sectors; we’d like to get more into the trades.
JPY – Is there a charge?
Sam – No. Everything is free; after Cameron’s pilot program is over, businesses could be asked to chip in to keep the program’s presence.
Rudy – Is there a similar program in Vermont?
Sam – Not sure. There are about 10 other states doing some work.
Paul T – any work with Listen Community Services in Lebanon?
Sam – No.
Paul T – Listen is one of the foremost providers of basic services in the Upper Valley, working with folks at the lower end of the economic scale. Paul asks Sam to contact either Angie or Kyle.
Ernst – At what time in the procedure do you tell the client to involve his/her primary care provider?
Sam – We have found that it’s hard to sum up. We do try to work with the local recovery organization.
Paul T: Is there some way for Rotarians to refer your services to some people in those companies?
Sam – Capacity-wise we haven’t been able to do a lot of recruiting. We are looking to increase. Best way is to use the link. We will get a recovery advisor assigned to them and start the informational process.
Governor's Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative
Speaker Bio: Samantha Lewandowski holds a Master of Science in Community Development & Applied Economics from the University of Vermont. She first began working with individuals with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) back in 2013 through a residential harm reduction program. Presently, she is a Recovery Friendly Advisor for the Governor's Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) initiative, where her role is to work with businesses to help them develop workplace cultures that are more supportive to those in recovery or who have been impacted by SUD more generally. She is also a certified Recovery Coach.
Having loved ones with SUD, this work is especially near and dear to her heart, and she hopes that through continuing to provide research-informed and evidence-based supports, information, resources, and trainings, that stigma can continue to be challenged and barriers reduced so that those who have been impacted by SUD can access the support they need.