Potential Role of Online Skills Preparation for Employment in Recovery

The IRIS-funded, mixed methods, research pilot, “Potential Role of Online Skills Preparation for Employment in Recovery (PROSPER/Online Skills)” has wrapped up with important findings. Leaders from University of Maryland, Baltimore’s PROSPER initiative and Powell Recovery Center partnered to evaluate the feasibility and utility of the Barriers to Employment Success Inventory (BESI) to assess employment obstacles, as well as online training videos from Training Industry’s ej4 platform to develop soft skills that contribute to job success. Findings indicated that for those who completed study milestones, there was a significant decrease in their overall concerns about employment barriers, including soft skills and other obstacles.

Participants found the videos enjoyable, and that they built confidence and skills. Critical feedback included a difficulty with technical skills needed to navigate these resources. Feedback pointed to the need for training videos that are more representative of racial and ethnic minorities and based on human service instead of corporate settings. Overall, results point to the promise of developing targeted online training plans to support the workforce success of people in recovery, and the need for computer skills support as well as more representative and relevant resources. To read more about this study, visit here.

In April, IRIS staff and Recovery Research Fellowship alumni presented at the National Conference on Addiction Recovery Science.

IRIS staff presented a symposium, “Lessons in Measurement: Practice in Relevant Measurement of Recovery in Community Settings.” This symposium featured three IRIS pilot projects on measuring practice relevant constructs. The first pilot project focused on decreasing stigma in healthcare settings. The second project focused on the development of a measure to quantify changes in quality of life for homeless individuals with OUD. The third project focused on using administrative data to better understand recovery support services within the context of the stages of change model. Learn more about the pilot projects here.

Also, Recovery Research Fellowship alumni and IRIS staff facilitated a roundtable, “Building Capacity for Community-Engaged Peer Recovery Research through the IRIS Fellowship.” IRIS staff presented evaluation results of the Fellowship program model, showing significant gains in Fellows’ connectedness and research skills. It also featured four Fellowship alumni with reflections on their experience learning community-engaged research focused on peer recovery support and peer workforce integration as well as building trust and relationships across the sector. Learn more about the Fellowship here.

Call for Manuscripts

“Innovations in Recovery Science: Pathways, Policies, and Platforms that Promote Thriving After Addiction”

Frontiers

“This Research Topic aims to delve into the expanding field of recovery science, exploring the various aspects and strategies for successful recovery from addiction and mental health disorders.” The summary submission deadline is June 15th and submission deadline is October 31st.

Activity

“2024 Art of Recovery Project”

SAMHSA

“The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Office of Recovery is excited to announce the 2024 Art of Recovery project, which aims to highlight the transformative impact of art on mental health and substance use recovery.” Submissions are accepted from artists with lived or living experience until June 28th.

Virtual Event

Peer in Crisis Services Listening Sessions

On Our Own of Maryland

7/16 from 9 – 10:30 AM EST

“A sharing space for peer support professionals working in crisis support services to identify effective tools and practices for authentic peer support in crisis scenarios, barriers and opportunities in different service settings, and current and emerging training needs for peer support staff as well as their colleagues.”

News

“Lower Shore Clinic is now HealthPort”

HealthPort

“HealthPort is the new name and identity debuted today by the Lower Shore Clinic. The brand change reflects the non-profit organization’s mission to deliver multifaceted primary care, mental health, and substance use treatment to clients throughout Delmarva.”

Webinar

The Oxford House Model

I-STARR

7/16 at 2 PM EST

“Recovery housing represents a range of different levels of care, from peer-run to those that provide clinical services. This webinar reviews the Oxford House model, which represents peer-run recovery housing.”

News

“Announcing Anti-Stigma Initiative Sites”

Addiction Policy Form

“Addiction Policy Forum announced the 117 nationwide Anti-Stigma Initiative Sites selected to help minimize the harmful stigma surrounding addiction. Pilot sites in this initiative will play a vital role in increasing the general knowledge about addiction and correcting misinformation. The initiative measures the levels of stigma and identifies stereotypes and prejudice held by the participating sites or within their communities. 117 sites from 34 U.S. states and 3 international locations are included.” There are four Anti-Stigma Sites in Maryland: ChrysantheMoms Inc, Frederick County Health Department Behavioral Health Services, Garrett County Health Dept, and University of Maryland Faculty Physicians Inc.

Webinar

“Integrating Recovery Housing with Substance Use Treatment”

I-STARR

8/20 at 2 PM EST

“People taking MOUD are often excluded from the recovery community due to common myths about MAR and the belief that recovery without medication is the only acceptable path. The webinar describes the mission and findings from Project HOMES in Texas to support recovery housing for persons taking MOUD.”