Skip to Content Accessibility Information

Maryland’s Workforce Development Response to Addiction and the Overdose Epidemic - Workforce Development and Adult Learning

In 2017, Governor Hogan declared a state of emergency in response to the heroin, opioid, and fentanyl crisis ravaging communities in Maryland and across the country. In response to this, the Maryland Department of Labor began seeking federal and state funding to support job seekers impacted by substance use and to expand the number of workers across the state seeking to enter professions that help in addressing this crisis. Since 2018, Labor has received and/or committed close to $10 million to be used towards creative workforce solutions to address the addiction and opioid crisis in Maryland.

Funded projects have included training in in-demand industries such as:

  • Peer Recovery
  • Manufacturing
  • Welding
  • Culinary
  • Hospitality
  • Transportation and Logistics
  • Phlebotomy

…and more.

Below is table of grants released by the department starting in 2018. As MD Labor is committed to continuing to support this work, this table may be updated with new funding opportunities. Please continue to check the MD Labor website for updates and other funding announcements.

Grants Released by the Department
Grant Name Funding Source Timeline Geographic Areas Summary of Services

National Health Emergency Grant

Federal – Employment and Training Administration (ETA)

July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2020

Statewide

  1. Funding to Title I providers
  2. Creation of Opioid Workforce Innovation Fund (OWIF)

Women’s Bureau Maryland Opioid Grant

Federal – United States Department Of Labor (USDOL) Women’s Bureau

October 1, 2018 – September 30, 2021

Baltimore City, Maryland Correctional Institution for Women (MCIW)

Pre-Apprenticeship Hospitality Pilot at MCIW

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Pilot Program

State – Opioid Operational Command Center (OOCC)

Annually awarded through a competitive process Fiscal Years (FY) 2019-2024

Statewide

Pilot program to train Certified Peer Recovery Specialists at ten correctional facilities across Maryland

Workforce Development for Persons in Recovery

Federal – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) via Maryland Department of Health (MDH)

December 20, 2019 – April 30, 2021

Statewide

Funding provided to workforce development and behavioral health providers to connect individuals impacted by opioid use to job training and employment.

Support to Communities – Fostering Opioid Recovery through Workforce Development Grant Porgram

Federal – USDOL

October 1, 2020 – August 31, 2024

Statewide for interested Local Workforce Development Areas (Local Areas)

Awards Local Areas funds to provide workforce services to individuals personally affected by the opioid crisis

Workforce Development for Persons in Recovery 2

Federal – SAMSHA via MDH

December 1, 2020 – September 29, 2022

Statewide

Funding provided to workforce development and behavioral health providers to connect individuals impacted by opioid use to job training and employment

Supporting Recovery Through Employment

Federal - USDOL ETA Governor's Set-Aside

November 1, 2022- October 31, 2023

Statewide

Funding to support organizations in developing a recruitment to placement framework for individuals in recovery

Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) Pilot Program

Federal– SAMHSAvia MDH Behavioral Health Administration (BHA)

July 18, 2023 – September 29, 2024

Western MD Local Area, Susquehanna Local Area, and St. Mary’s County

Awards funds to implement the RFW model in these three areas