U.S. Department of Labor Awards Dislocated Worker Grant to Indiana For Jobs and Employment Services in Response to Opioid Crisis

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opioid-crisis Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development for up to $4,739,794, with $1,579,931 released initially. This grant will provide disaster-relief jobs and employment services to eligible individuals in Indiana impacted by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.

This grant will provide eligible participants with disaster-relief employment in positions addressing the crisis, such as community health workers, recovery coaches, and peer navigators, to help individuals travel the path to recovery. It will also assist eligible individuals directly impacted by the crisis with reintegration into the workforce, providing them opportunities for work-based training and placement in high-wage, in-demand occupations.

Indiana anticipates serving approximately 450 grant participants in the following 25 Indiana counties: Bartholomew, Blackford, Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Harrison, Henry, Jackson, Jay, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Randolph, Ripley, Rush, Scott, Switzerland, Union, Washington, and Wayne.

"Opioid abuse devastates families and communities," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. "Providing a support system to individuals to overcome their addiction and find family-sustaining job opportunities is a critical part of recovery. This Dislocated Worker Grant will help individuals impacted by the opioid crisis remain in and return to the workforce."

"As we continue to combat the drug crisis, this grant from the U.S. Department of Labor will bolster Indiana's Next Level Recovery and workforce initiatives," Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. "Increasing the number of trained professionals who can assist people by navigating treatment, while empowering more Hoosiers with the skills, training and a pathway to employment in high-wage, in-demand jobs will help more people through recovery and into employment."

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