Shawnee State University is taking a bold step forward in the fight against the addiction epidemic gripping our region. Backed by a new $500,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) INSPIRE initiative, the Portsmouth-based university is expanding its substance use disorder recovery services and workforce training programs to directly support those battling addiction—and those helping them recover.
Training the Recovery Workforce of Tomorrow
The funding will be used to build and strengthen recovery ecosystems across Appalachian Ohio and Kentucky. The university plans to:
- Expand vocational and academic programming for individuals in recovery
- Launch graduate-level certificates in Social Work, Human Services, and Rural Health
- Offer stackable credentials for professionals already in the behavioral health field
- Develop a Community Health Worker credentialing program to train liaisons between recovering individuals and health providers
“In order to have a healthy Appalachian economy, we must make sure we have a healthy Appalachian workforce,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “The INSPIRE initiative empowers Appalachians in substance use disorder recovery to gain the training, resources, and support they need to re-enter the workforce.”
Local Partnerships with Deep Roots
SSU is not tackling the crisis alone. The university will collaborate with trusted local and regional organizations, including:
- The STAR Community Justice Center
- Southern Ohio Medical Center
- Shawnee Family Health Center
- The Counseling Center
- Integrated Services for Behavioral Health
- UK King’s Daughters Medical Center
These partnerships are crucial to making sure services reach people where they are, especially in underserved communities.
Dr. Christine Raber, Dean of SSU’s College of Health & Human Services, emphasized the urgency and innovation behind the work:
“This INSPIRE Grant will help us continue to support the regional recovery community by funding innovative and rapid ways for us to expand our behavioral health workforce, provide career pathways for citizens in recovery, and upskill professionals already providing services in our Appalachian region.”
A Solution for Both Prevention and Healing
The program doesn’t just aim to treat addiction—it builds an infrastructure that supports prevention, recovery, and reentry into society. By offering justice-involved individuals access to educational and career development opportunities, SSU hopes to break the cycle that too often leads from addiction to jail to homelessness.
More Than a Degree
Shawnee State’s College of Health & Human Services is already recognized for producing skilled professionals in high-demand fields like social work and nursing. Now, they’re deepening their role as a community anchor in the battle against substance use disorder.