The thought leadership of the Center for Health, Work and the Environment and the Colorado School of Public Health plays a central role on the national stage.
AURORA, CO (September 18, 2024) — Today, in celebration of National Recovery Month, David Shapiro, assistant director of programs and partnerships at the Colorado School of Public Health’s (ColoradoSPH) Center for Health, Work, and the Environment (CHWE), participated in an important roundtable discussion at the White House on behalf of the Colorado Recovery-Friendly Workplace Initiative (RFWI). The event, held in Washington, DC, was a key gathering of national leaders committed to advancing recovery-friendly workplace policies.
Shapiro’s involvement highlights CHWE’s leadership in partnering with businesses across Colorado to help employees recover from substance use disorders and address the opioid and overdose crisis. The Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative, spearheaded by CHWE in collaboration with the Colorado Coalition to Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse, is at the forefront of these efforts nationally.
“At CHWE, we have long recognized the vital role employers play in promoting healthier, more supportive work environments,” said Dr. Liliana Tenney, CHWE’s director of outreach and programs. “Having the opportunity to showcase our work on a national stage demonstrates the commitment of our partners and the Center to focusing on supporting workers struggling with mental illness, opioid abuse and other substance use disorders. We are united in our common goal of encouraging more employers in Colorado to foster a culture of support for individuals in recovery.”
National Recovery Month is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader strategy to promote recovery-friendly workplace environments and address the nationwide substance use crisis. The effort is a key priority in President Biden’s Unity Agenda, which aims to support millions of Americans in recovery and reduce the stigma surrounding substance use.
Shapiro shared insights from Colorado’s Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative, which has provided guidance to over 100 Colorado companies on how to support their employees’ treatment, recovery, and overall mental health. By collaborating with leaders across the country, Shapiro represented ColoradoSPH’s success and the critical thought leadership that will ultimately make workplaces more inclusive and supportive for those in recovery.
“It’s an honor to come together with leaders from across the nation to address this public health challenge,” Shapiro said. “When the public and private sectors work together and implement strategies to support people on their journey to recovery, communities can thrive. Colorado is poised to lead this effort.”
Founded in 2022, Colorado’s Recovery-Friendly Workplace Initiative has worked with companies across a variety of industries, including healthcare, construction, and hospitality, to develop workplace policies that reduce stigma, support recovery, and contribute to a more resilient workforce. The program’s ongoing efforts are supported by Colorado’s legislative efforts, and Senate Bill 24-048, signed into law in 2024, will invest approximately $1.5 million over the next four years in the Center for Health, Work, and Environment (CHWE) at the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) to provide recovery-friendly workplaces across Colorado. The event, which coincides with National Recovery Month, will bring together state and business leaders to share best practices and foster collaboration on recovery-friendly workplace policies across the country.
For more information about the Center for Health, Work and the Environment or the Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative, visit CHWE’s RFWI page.
About the Health, Labor and Environment Center
The Center for Health, Work, and the Environment is an academic center within the Colorado School of Public Health. The Center is one of 10 Centers of Excellence in Total Worker Health® and houses the Mountain & Plains Education and Research Center (MAP ERC), one of 18 centers supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The Center team works with faculty, students, and community partners to improve worker health, safety, and well-being. The Center is committed to developing education, research, and public health practice efforts that combat issues of racial and environmental inequality and injustice faced by workers. To effectively address the future of work, we aim to ensure healthier and safer workplaces for all. The Center’s main office is located at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado.
About Colorado School of Public Health
The Colorado School of Public Health is the first and only accredited public health school in the Rocky Mountain region, attracting top faculty and students from across the country to make important contributions to ensuring the health and well-being of the region.
Founded in 2008 as a collaboration between the University of Colorado, Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado, the Colorado School of Public Health provides training, innovative research and community service to proactively address public health issues including chronic disease, access to care, environmental threats, emerging infectious diseases and costly injuries.
About University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is a world-class medical hub at the forefront of transformative science, medicine, education and patient care. The campus is home to the University of Colorado’s health professions, more than 60 centers and institutes, and two nationally acclaimed freestanding hospitals – UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital Colorado – serving more than 2 million adult and pediatric patients annually. Innovative, interconnected and highly collaborative, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus provides life-changing treatments, patient care and specialty training, and conducts world-renowned research supported by $705 million in research grants. For more information, visit www.cuanschutz.edu.
