The full lineup of speakers and topics for the national virtual symposium WORKING RECOVERY : Why Employement is Pivotal to Sustained Addiction Recovery has been announced. The event will be held on September 14, 2021, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. Attendance is offered at no cost, but registration is required. The event coincides with both National Recovery Month and National Workforce Development Month.

Employment is not just an option for addiction recovery success, it is crucial. This symposium highlights programs and organizations that are effectively implementing employment services to decrease overdose and increase recovery success. Participants will hear from experts on addiction, education and workforce development, including

• U.S. Secretary of Labor Martin J. Walsh;
• Dr. David Best, Professor at the University of Derby, England;
• Dr. David Eddie, Clinical Psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School;
• Joey Cuzzi, Executive Director of New England Culinary Arts Training;
• Vinnie Rege, Dean of Business and Experiential Education at Bristol Community College;
• Ramona Rivera-Reno, Executive Director of Re-Entry & Recovery Services at MassHire/Holyoke;
• Rebecca Starr, Project Director of Massachusetts Access to Recovery, Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. and
• Doreen Treacy, Vice President of JVS MassHire (career center).

They, along with panels of people with lived experience and other experts, will share their tips, experiences and strategies for 

• Successful collaborations with employers, universities/colleges and other organizations to build on-ramps to employment;
• Building career training programs that work and
• Developing tools and resources to advance “recovery ready” workplaces as a way to get buy-in from employers.

WORKING RECOVERY is offered at no cost but requires pre-registration. Registration is at https://attendify.co/w9HxJaA.

The event is open to anyone with an interest in substance use disorders, addiction recovery, employment strategies for some of the most challenged and vulnerable in our society, workforce development and customization of job training programs for optimal success with this population. Continuing education credits are available.

This virtual symposium, WORKING RECOVERY, is sponsored by Massachusetts Access to Recovery (ATR), a project of Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP), funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health/Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS).

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