The Workforce Opportunities for Communities in Recovery Act creates a federal grant program to help workers affected by substance use disorder find and maintain employment. The bill authorizes competitive grants to state and local workforce boards that partner with treatment providers, employers, education institutions, and community organizations to serve two groups: workers directly or indirectly affected by widespread substance use disorder, and workers seeking training in occupations that support people with substance use disorders. Participating partnerships would offer job training, career counseling, supportive services like treatment referrals and mentorship, and help connecting workers with employers offering on-the-job training and transitional employment opportunities. The bill funds this pilot program at $25 million in fiscal year 2025, increasing to $37.5 million by 2030, with grants lasting two years and focusing on areas hit hardest by the substance use crisis. The legislation requires independent evaluation using rigorous research methods to measure whether the program improves employment outcomes for individuals with substance use disorders.
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