News
The Wright Center to spotlight impact of Project PROGRESS, a regional initiative to increase employment of people in recovery
The Wright Center for Community Health, along with regional community partners, is holding a celebration dinner on Wednesday, Sept. 25, to highlight the success of a grant-funded project that provided access to more than 100 people to become certified recovery specialists while challenging the stigma associated with employing people with substance use disorder.
The event at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, 138 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. will include brief comments from the project’s organizers as well as area residents who completed and benefited from the career training program.
Project PROGRESS, funded in part through an Appalachian Regional Commission INSPIRE grant, was a three-year effort led by The Wright Center in collaboration with partners across a multicounty area heavily impacted by the ongoing opioid crisis. The acronym PROGRESS stands for Providing Recovery Opportunities for Growth, Education, and Sustainable Success.
Meaghan P. Ruddy, Ph.D., senior vice president and
chief strategic research & development officer at
The Wright Center for Community Health.
“Through this impactful project, we provided critical job training and support to 76 people who have been able to pursue employment in the field,” said Meaghan P. Ruddy, Ph.D., senior vice president and chief strategic research & development officer at The Wright Center. “Project PROGRESS also served as an important call to our communities to recognize addiction as a chronic illness and to work across sectors to create a recovery ecosystem in which people moving from treatment to life in recovery are compassionately supported.
“That ecosystem requires us to build links among not only recovery communities and health and human services programs, but also many others, including transportation, public safety, housing, education, and employment providers.”
The Project PROGRESS grant period officially ends in September. However, a website at ProjectProgressNEPA.org, will remain active for at least three years, providing links to helpful resources on topics such as overcoming stigma, job hunting while in recovery, and finding recovery-friendly workplaces.
The Wright Center collaborated with Luzerne County Community College, the Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center, The Institute, and the Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance to deliver the recovery-to-work initiative in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties.
“There is a great need for peer support in addiction recovery services and a shortage of certified recovery specialists in Northeast Pennsylvania,” said Susan Spry, associate vice president of academic affairs at Luzerne County Community College. “Certified recovery specialists offer crucial support and resources to those seeking to live a life in recovery. Project PROGRESS and our community partners have played a vital role in addressing the stigma associated with recovery and creating a pathway for individuals to access the training they need to fill these important professional positions.”
“Professional certified recovery specialists play a valuable role in addiction recovery services in Northeast Pennsylvania,” added Mary K. Murphy, a certified recovery specialist trainer at Luzerne County Community College. “Their experience, strength, and hope, combined with the tools and education provided by Project PROGRESS, empower certified recovery specialists to assist individuals on their journey to recovery from addiction.”
Assistance and guidance were also provided by the AllOne Foundation, the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, the Wayne County Commissioners, the Wayne Economic Development Corporation, and the Office of Congressman Matt Cartwright.
Individuals who met the eligibility requirements to enroll in the certified recovery specialist training were able to take the class for free. The grant project also covered the cost of their certification examination fees.
A certified recovery specialist is someone who has overcome substance use disorder and who works as part of a multidisciplinary care team to help other individuals achieve and maintain long-term sobriety. Using their own life experiences, certified recovery specialists mentor, motivate, and advocate to ensure patients are supported on their journey toward wellness.
“The Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NE PA AHEC) was excited to participate in Project PROGRESS,” said Debra Youngfelt, executive director of NE PA AHEC. “By offering community health worker training, we provided individuals in recovery with the opportunity to gain new skills and expand their employment options. The significance of certified recovery specialists and community health workers in our communities, along with the invaluable lived experiences they bring to those in recovery, cannot be overstated as the demand for these roles continues to grow.
“Project PROGRESS was a tremendous success, not only by providing training and employment opportunities to many in recovery, but also by filling a gap in the continuum of care for individuals with substance use disorders.”
Thanks to the partnership with the Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance, Project PROGRESS was able to extend its reach to rural counties and, in turn, attract additional candidates into the training program.
“Our unique relationship with Project PROGRESS transformed lives, strengthened our communities, and addressed the stigma that oftentimes prevents people from all walks of life from addressing their substance use disorder and living a life in recovery,” said Katheryne Hait, SHRM CP, chief operating officer at Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance. “I am extremely proud of the lasting partnerships we forged with several community organizations and the members of our communities who are now leading by example in their roles as certified recovery specialists.”
Today, employers in Pennsylvania are seeking to fill these professional positions in a range of business settings, such as recovery and treatment centers, prisons, hospitals, and human services and health care settings.
