Maryland’s Workforce Development Response to Addiction and the Overdose Epidemic - Workforce Development and Adult Learning
In 2017, Governor Hogan declared a state of emergency in response to the heroin, opioid, and fentanyl crisis ravaging communities in Maryland and across the country. In response to this, the Maryland Department of Labor began seeking federal and state funding to support job seekers impacted by substance use and to expand the number of workers across the state seeking to enter professions that help in addressing this crisis. Since 2018, Labor has received and/or committed close to $10 million to be used towards creative workforce solutions to address the addiction and opioid crisis in Maryland.
Funded projects have included training in in-demand industries such as:
- Peer Recovery
- Manufacturing
- Welding
- Culinary
- Hospitality
- Transportation and Logistics
- Phlebotomy
…and more. Below is table of grants released by the department starting in 2018. As MD Labor is committed to continuing to support this work, this table may be updated with new funding opportunities. Please continue to check the MD Labor website for updates and other funding announcements.
| Grant Name | Funding Source | Timeline | Geographic Areas | Summary of Services |
|---|---|---|---|---|
National Health Emergency Grant |
Federal – Employment and Training Administration (ETA) |
July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2020 |
Statewide |
|
Women’s Bureau Maryland Opioid Grant |
Federal – United States Department Of Labor (USDOL) Women’s Bureau |
October 1, 2018 – September 30, 2021 |
Baltimore City, Maryland Correctional Institution for Women (MCIW) |
Pre-Apprenticeship Hospitality Pilot at MCIW |
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Pilot Program |
State – Maryland Office of Overdose Response (MOOR) |
Annually awarded through a competitive process Fiscal Years (FY) 2019-2025 |
Statewide |
Pilot program to train Certified Peer Recovery Specialists at ten correctional facilities across Maryland |
Workforce Development for Persons in Recovery |
Federal – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) via Maryland Department of Health (MDH) |
December 20, 2019 – April 30, 2021 |
Statewide |
Funding provided to workforce development and behavioral health providers to connect individuals impacted by opioid use to job training and employment. |
Support to Communities: Fostering Opioid Recovery Through Workforce Development Grant Program (Support to Communities) |
Federal – USDOL |
October 1, 2020 – August 31, 2024 |
Statewide for interested Local Workforce Development Areas (Local Areas) |
Awards Local Areas funds to provide workforce services to individuals personally affected by the opioid crisis |
Workforce Development for Persons in Recovery 2 |
Federal – SAMSHA via MDH |
December 1, 2020 – September 29, 2022 |
Statewide |
Funding provided to workforce development and behavioral health providers to connect individuals impacted by opioid use to job training and employment |
Supporting Recovery Through Employment (SRTE) |
Federal - USDOL ETA Governor's Set-Aside |
November 1, 2022- October 31, 2023 |
Statewide |
Funding to support organizations in developing a recruitment to placement framework for individuals in recovery |
Federal– SAMHSA via MDH Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) |
July 18, 2023 – September 29, 2024 |
Western MD Local Area, Susquehanna Local Area, and St. Mary’s County |
Awards funds to implement the RFW model in these three areas |