people sitting in an office

Rhode Island's Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative 

The Rhode Island Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative works with partners and employers to help address substance use and mental health conditions facing workforces and communities.

Learn About Membership

Our goal is to provide consulting, guidance, training, and technical support to help organizations implement evidence-based workplace practices and support for employees in treatment and recovery, those looking to enter treatment, and people in recovery looking to reengage the workforce.

The Rhode Island Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) Initiative acknowledges the critical role employers and institutions hold in elevating the importance of substance use and mental health conditions in the workplace and is dedicated to equipping them to address it.

Empowering workplaces to provide support for people recovering from substance use disorder

Led by Governor Dan McKee, Rhode Island’s “Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative” promotes individual wellness for Ocean Staters by empowering workplaces to provide support for people recovering from substance use disorder.

Governor Mckee

"Safety is our number one priority at Gilbane. However, not every injury can be easily seen. We engage with Recovery Friendly Workplace because we want our employees to know we care about their mental health as well as physical health. We have discussions openly in meetings about mental health issues and create an environment where sharing concerns is not only okay; it’s encouraged.” 

Mike Busam – Rhode Island Business Leader

Gilbane Building Company

Michael Busam

RFW Learning Series Calendar

Recovery Ready Workplace Toolkit

Recovery friendly workplace toolkit. Title on a dark blue background with a ring of stars

This toolkit provides information, tools, and resources to help employers from all sectors—government, for-profit, non-profit, and not-for-profit—effectively prevent and respond to substance misuse in the workforce, and reduce its impact on employers and on the broader community. Made available through the Recovery-Ready Workplace Resource Hub, which is hosted by the Employment and Training Administration at the United States Department of Labor, this toolkit is intended to be useful across sectors and industries. It offers employers and local or statewide RRW initiative leaders a range of resources to help them effectively address substance use in the workforce and successfully hire, onboard, and retain people who are in or seeking recovery from substance use disorder.

Recent Blog Posts

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11-08-2024
Movember Spotlight in Rhode Island: Taking Charge of Men’s Health Through Cancer Screenings

Implementing Fair Chance Hiring Practices

07-19-2024

For businesses considering adopting fair chance hiring, several strategies can facilitate a smooth transition:  

The Importance of BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month

07-19-2024

BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month is not just a time for raising awareness; it is a call to action. It is a reminder that mental health disparities must be addressed, cultural stigmas must be broken, and equitable access to mental health care must be ensured.

Recovery Friendly RI