News
The Wright Center for Community Health Awarded $270,000 Through Appalachian Regional Commission’s Inspire Initiative
PROGRESS Project will support recovery-to-work / recovery ecosystem efforts in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties
Scranton, Pa. (April 1, 2021) – The Wright Center for Community Health was awarded $270,000 by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to implement a regional recovery-to-work ecosystem for patients coping with Substance Use Disorders.
Working collaboratively with community partners, including AllOne Recovery Educational Institute of Luzerne County Community College, The Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development, the Northeast PA Area Health Education Center and Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance, The Wright Center will co-create employment training opportunities for people in recovery.
This is one of 30 projects receiving more than $9.4 million from INvestments Supporting Partnerships In Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE), an ARC initiative addressing Appalachia’s substance abuse crisis by creating or expanding a recovery ecosystem leading to workforce entry or re-entry. ARC has also released a Request for Proposals for a second round of INSPIRE funding, which will award up to $10 million to more recovery-to-work projects.
“I congratulate The Wright Center for their INSPIRE award and commend them for their role in addressing the economic impacts of Appalachia’s substance abuse crisis,” said ARC Federal Co-Chairman Tim Thomas. “ARC INSPIRE partners will help individuals in recovery obtain sustainable employment, further encouraging economic resiliency in the communities that will be served. As ARC looks to the second round of this funding initiative, I encourage all interested applicants in the Region to send us your ideas.”
“We’re grateful to receive this grant to further expand recovery services for the people of Northeast Pennsylvania. A critical, and often overlooked, aspect of successful recovery includes career training that supports reintegration into the workforce so individuals overcoming Substance Use Disorders can find family-sustaining jobs,” said Maria Kolcharno, Director of Addiction Services for The Wright Center.
