Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative™
Helping employers respond to mental health, substance-use, and addiction challenges in the American workforce.
About
We know that employers acknowledge the importance of recovery friendly workplaces. This initiative provides opportunities for Colorado business champions to step up and act collectively.
— Lili Tenney, DrPH, MPH, Associate Director for outreach and programs at CHWE and Project Lead
The Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative works with partners and employers to help address major mental health challenges facing workforces and communities including depression, suicide, and substance use disorders.
The Center for Health, Work & Environment and the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention are collaborating to address the national mental health crisis and substance use epidemic intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal is to educate, train, and provide resources to help managers and individuals implement evidence-based workplace practices and support for employees in treatment and recovery.
The Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) Initiative acknowledges the critical role employers hold in elevating the importance of mental health in the workplace and is dedicated to equipping them to address it.
Become a Recovery Friendly Workplace
The first step to becoming a Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) is to sign the RFW pledge below. Join more than 70 Colorado businesses that have pledged to support employees through recovery.
After signing the pledge, we recommend scheduling a Recovery Friendly Workplace advising session to review and receive customized guidance on how to implement new policies and procedures, ensuring they are evidence-based and grounded in science.
Schedule a RFW Advising Session
The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention has created a Recovery Friendly Workplace toolkit to help guide organizations in taking a proactive role in creating positive company outcomes. Check out the resource guide below for information on how becoming an RFW can lead to healthier and happier employees, promote a safer and more positive workplace, and improve employee performance, productivity, and retention.
Download the RFW Resource Guide
To continue the work of our successful peer learning series, in partnership with the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, we are launching the RFW Employer Workgroup.
This group will represent Colorado employers who are champions for RFW policies and practices and be the voice of local employers on statewide RFW issues. If you are interested in signing up for the RFW Workgroup or want to learn more information, sign up below.
Join the RFW Workgroup
Colorado's RFW Pledge
Thank you to Leidos and the Milken Institute for their leadership on this topic and inspiration for this form.
In the News
Governor Polis signed Senate Bill 24-048, which invests $1.5 M in establishing Recovery Friendly Workplaces (RFW).
Colorado Passes New Legislation to Support Recovery Friendly Workplaces
Business leaders in Routt County take the first step in supporting workers in recovery
Valley employers join Recovery Friendly Workplace initiative
How Can Employers Help When Workers Struggle With Substance Use?
Partners
/cu_depression_center.jpg?sfvrsn=dc7c88ba_0 "CU_Depression_Center")
/untitled-35354ece6302864d9a5bfff0a001ce385.jpg?sfvrsn=9c7c88ba_0 "Consortium")
/untitledszd-1.png?sfvrsn=4b0d89ba_0 "Untitled-1")
Additional Resources
The Recovery Friendly Workplace: A Total Worker Health® Approach
This Health Links webinar (August 21, 2023) featured an important discussion with local and national experts on RFW policies and practices that create positive change for individuals affected by addiction.
/untitled-19150ece6302864d9a5bfff0a001ce385.jpg?sfvrsn=5e7888ba_0 "MHM")
Workplace Mental Health Module
The Health Links® Workplace Mental Health Module is designed to help organizations assess their current strategy and how to improve policies and practices that support a positive workplace culture. The module includes a survey, toolkit, customized recommendations, and advising sessions aimed at using evidence-based practices to improve employee mental health.
/untitled-171ac08e7302864d9a5bfff0a001ce385.jpg?sfvrsn=be846cbb_0 "RFWI toolkit")
The Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Toolkit
This toolkit provides a comprehensive document that identifies the steps employers can take to enhance organizational effectiveness and become a workplace that supports all employees, especially those in recovery from addiction. Strategies that Recovery Friendly Workplaces across the nation, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have carefully implemented, rigorously evaluated, and deemed effective are the central foundation for developing this Recovery Friendly Workplace initiative.
/sincerely-media-dgxogexaxm8-unsplash.jpg?sfvrsn=fcb099bb_0 "sincerely-media-dGxOgeXAXm8-unsplash")
Peer Series
We hosted a four-part virtual workshop for Colorado executive management, leadership, HR directors, and influencers/decision-makers with a mixed format of case studies and peer discussion. View presentations and resources from the peer learning series.