FAQ
What is a Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW)?
A Recovery Friendly Workplace supports the health, wellness, and safety of its employees by educating about substance use and mental health disorders, creating an environment conducive to the journey of recovery, and working to reduce the stigma often associated with the disease of addiction, substance use, and recovery.
What is the cost of participation?
This toolkit and access to a Recovery Friendly Advisor are offered at no cost due to our generous sponsors and partners. This also includes connection with an organization of local agencies and businesses, and referrals for employment where appropriate.
What is a Recovery Friendly Advisor (RFA)?
An RFA is an advocate who works in the recovery community. Whether they are staff at Volusia Recovery Alliance or a peer navigator working directly with individuals in recovery, your RFA will be available to answer questions, support you in implementing and customizing your RFW program, and more.
What are the benefits of working with individuals in recovery?
There are many benefits to working with individuals in recovery. First, there are measurable economic benefits. Whether it is improved productivity, less days out of work, or increased job retention, hiring someone in recovery comes with savings for your organization. Further, the values of recovery – accountability, holistic wellness, assessing avenues for help when the need arises – are social benefits you will see affecting positive change, too.
Will I have to change policies or commit to hiring people in recovery?
You may not have to change any specific policies. We do ask, however, that you use the information provided to you through engagement with this initiative to review your policies and make sure that they value the recovery process, that they do not contribute to the stigma surrounding those affected by substance use, and that they honor your employees’ health, wellness, and ability to access available resources.
In terms of hiring people in recovery, chances are you already have hired out of the recovery population and we don’t encourage that you ask people to self-identify in the application or interview process. This program is designed to honor recovery, combat stigma, and provide resource navigation to employees and their loved ones.
How can we engage this initiative if we can’t change any of our policies?
- Raise Awareness – About substance use and its risks, about stigma and the ways it affects those who use substances, those in recovery, and those suffering from mental health concerns.
- Promote – Your workplace may have restrictions, another does not. Help us affect change in our community.
- Educate – We can provide your staff with training and data. You can politely interrupt stigma and share info!
- Create a Healthy Workplace – Open clear lines of communication, resource connection, access to evidence-based practices for addressing mental health needs.
- Tell Others – Share with others that you are recovery-friendly and share how they can join the movement!
- Innovate – This work is new but very important. We love working with employers to make it their own!