TMC will partner with Addiction Recovery Care
LOUISA — The Millard College has been awarded a $500,000 grant by the Appalachian Regional Commission to provide job training, in partnership with Addiction Recovery Care, to Kentuckians in recovery from substance use disorders.
The award is part of a recently announced $12 million package through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s INSPIRE Initiative, which addresses the region’s substance use disorder crisis with investments that strengthen services in the recovery ecosystem and help facilitate workforce entry and reentry.
A press release from TMC, a Louisa-based private Christian school, states that TMC and Addiction Recovery Care of Louisa will work together to provide a coordinated, holistic approach to recovery, training and work experience. “This partnership will not only help address the state’s historically low workforce participation rate but will grow the behavioral health workforce at a time when these workers are needed most.”
The grant will help fund TMC’s Peer Support program, which equips individuals with training and skills to be hired as peer support specialists positions. Curriculum will include workplace skills, introduction to computers, recovery principles, professional engagement practices and professional ethics.
According to the press release, peer support specialists play an important role in the treatment and recovery ecosystem, especially at a time when Kentucky overdose deaths have increased by nearly 50 percent. “As individuals who have been successful in the recovery process, peer support specialists are uniquely positioned to assist others experiencing similar situations.”
The press release goes on to state that through shared understanding, respect and mutual empowerment, peer support workers help people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of relapse. Peer support services can effectively extend the reach of treatment beyond the clinical setting into the everyday environment of those seeking a successful, sustained recovery process.”
Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin commended TMC and Addiction Recovery Care for their work supporting the recovery ecosystem in Appalachian Kentucky.
“Their efforts are integral to bringing our INSPIRE projects to life,” Manchin said. “The Millard College is a great asset in our efforts to address the region’s substance use disorder crisis, and I look forward to seeing how they will help build a strong recovery ecosystem and a stronger workforce for the opportunities of tomorrow.”
TMC President Randy Stinson said, “With our focus on training and employment interwoven with recovery, we will be able to help many more men and women discover their destiny and solidify their future. We are thankful for the generosity of the Appalachian Regional Commission and are honored to be a 2022 INSPIRE grant recipient. We look forward to continuing to help people reach long-term recovery and reinvigorate the economy of the entire Appalachian region.”
Tim Robinson, president and CEO of Addiction Recovery Care, said job training and employment are critical components of long-term recovery.
“Our partnership with The Millard College will help us take more Kentuckians from crisis to career, and we’re grateful to have the Appalachian Regional Commission’s support,” Robinson said.