The Appalachian Regional Commission awarded millions of dollars for multiple projects in Appalachia, with nine states seeing an opportunity to help support Appalachians in recovery.
Six Ohio organizations received grants as part of the Investments Supporting Partnerships in Recovery Ecosystems Initiative grant, which seeks to help individuals recovering from a substance use disorder. The INSPIRE grant works to assist individuals in recovery to re-enter the workforce through training and support services.
Substance use disorder is a national crisis, but it disproportionately affects Appalachia. In 2022, overdose rates in Appalachia for ages 25-54 were 64% higher than the rest of the country, according to the ARC. The ARC addresses the issue through the INSPIRE program.
In total, ARC awarded $11 million for 32 projects across nine states. The Ohio initiatives received a total of $2.1 million from INSPIRE grants, which is the most of any state in this year’s award.
The Ohio awardees include the Community Action Committee of Pike County, Shawnee State University, Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries, On Our Way Home, Kent State University and Ohio Recovery Housing.
The Community Action Committee of Pike County received $500,000 from the INSPIRE grant this year to provide workforce training and recovery support services to its community, according to the award summaries. Although the committee was awarded for its recovery to work services, Community Action also provides an extensive list of programs in Pike County, including a Head Start program, the Valley View Health Centers and a Women, Infants and Children program.
Lisa Pfeifer, director of workforce and business development at the Community Action Committee of Pike County, said the committee is usually busy because it serves a large group of people with many different services, but was especially busy recently due to unemployment.
Community Action also assists people in the area who are recovering from a substance use disorder. Individuals who come in seeking help will be connected with a peer recovery supporter, who is someone who has been through a similar situation and can give insight and connect them with skill upgrades and resources to return to work.
Carolyn Fyffe, assistant director of workforce and business development, said Community Action has put together a talented transition team able to help individuals in recovery by providing useful knowledge and experience.
“They know what it’s been like, they’ve been through it, so they’re really good at helping them face those barriers and get back to employment,” Fyffe said. “This INSPIRE grant is letting us continue to do those things.”
In addition to support services, Community Action tries to break down barriers that prevent people from returning to work, which involves providing transportation to work, job placement and helping break down the stigmas around substance use disorder so employers will hire people in recovery.
Pfeifer said the committee has an extensive network of resources to connect with, depending on what an individual needs to help eliminate barriers to recovery.
“The ultimate goal is for them to get full-time employment, hopefully at the site we’re placing them, but sometimes they spread their wings and get a job elsewhere,” Pfeifer said.
Another organization that was awarded through the INSPIRE grant was Ohio Recovery Housing, which received more than $85,000 for recovery housing services in all 32 Appalachian Ohio counties.
Ohio Recovery Housing is based in Columbus, but works across the state to provide affordable housing for people recovering from substance use disorders.
Danielle Gray, executive director of ORH, said the INSPIRE grant will allow the organization to conduct more research on the Appalachian region to determine what needs to improve.
“We are very excited about the grant because it’s going to allow us to update, for the Appalachian region, our estimates of recovery housing needs,” Gray said. “The grant will also help us learn more about how operators are engaging in workforce development for their residents and then amplify those resources.”
Gray said ORH hopes to use the data it collects to determine a specific plan of action detailing how to improve its services, job connections and better integrate residents back into their local economies.
Gray also said ORH hopes to use the research results to do more outreach to employers, so they are less apprehensive about hiring people in recovery.
“There’s still a lot of stigma,” Gray said. “We’re going to definitely see through the results of all this what the best strategies are, so that way we can hopefully apply and implement those strategies in a year or two.”
This is a mission that rings true in the Community Action Committee of Pike County as well.
“Recovery isn’t just recovery; it affects everyone, it’s touched someone in some way,” Pfeifer said. “Community action is here to serve the people and improve our communities, their health, their independence and get people on their feet so they’re self-sufficient.”
