U.S. Department of Labor Provides National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grant to Combat Opioid Crisis in Missouri

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opioid-crisis Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the Missouri Division of Workforce Development for up to $4,090,306, with an initial increment of $1,363,435. The grant will provide disaster relief jobs and employment services to eligible individuals in 51 Missouri counties impacted by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.

The grant will provide eligible participants with disaster-relief employment in jobs addressing the impacts of the opioid crisis, including peer recovery specialists at community and recovery treatment centers. It will also provide employment services to participants seeking careers in healthcare professions related to addiction, treatment, prevention, and pain management.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency in October 2017, enabling Missouri to request this funding for a National Health Emergency DWG project.

Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, Dislocated Worker Grants temporarily expand the service capacity of dislocated worker programs at the state and local levels by providing funding assistance in response to large, unexpected economic events that cause significant job losses.