US Department of Labor awards $2.8M to continue employment, training services to combat Ohio opioid crisis

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an incremental award of more than $2.8 million for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to support its continued efforts to provide employment and training services for people in communities affected by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction and overdose.

In March 2022, the department awarded an Opioid Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant of up to $8,500,000 — with an initial award of $2,833,333 — to support the state’s efforts to combat the effects of the opioid crisis on workers in the region. These efforts include training people as peer recovery coaches, hospital support staff to address drug-related admissions and babies born addicted, and social service aides assisting children in foster care due to parental substance-use disorders. With this award of $2,833,333, the project’s funding to date is $5,666,666.

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

Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Opioid Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grants are administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration and create temporary jobs and provide employment and training services to reintegrate workers affected by the opioid crisis back into the workforce.