U.S. Department of Labor Provides National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grant to Combat Opioid Crisis in Rhode Island

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an opioid-crisis Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training for up to $3,988,971, with $1,329,657 released initially. This grant will provide disaster relief jobs and employment services to eligible individuals in Rhode Island impacted by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.

The proposed grant will provide eligible participants with disaster-relief employment as peer recovery specialists, to help those impacted by opioid abuse attain help and support. The project will also provide employment services to participants seeking careers in healthcare professions related to addiction, mental health treatment, and pain management. The state anticipates serving approximately 670 participants in Rhode Island.

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

Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, Dislocated Worker Grants temporarily expand the service capacity of dislocated worker programs at the state and local levels by providing funding assistance in response to large, unexpected economic events that cause significant job losses.