美高梅官网

Riley Jerow, a 美高梅官网 student, sat across a table from three patients at the Center for Addiction Treatment who had little in common apart from their desire to get better.

Jerow is taking part in a new 美高梅官网 service-learning project in which students create a curriculum designed to help people in recovery write resumes and cover letters, apply for jobs and prepare for interviews. Then the students put their plan to work at the treatment center, where they provide one-on-one job coaching.

The job-seekers were born years apart and have different educational backgrounds and work histories. But each welcomed Jerow鈥檚 job-coaching help.

鈥淚 appreciate her coming down to help us,鈥� one told another during a break.

The project demonstrates 美高梅官网's commitment to making a positive urban impact for Greater Cincinnati as described in its strategic direction called Next Lives Here.

Robert Hyland, an associate professor of English and comparative literature, created the project after surveys of the center鈥檚 patients found their biggest priority was re-employment.

鈥淭hey were looking for help with digital job-searching skills and reentry into the workforce,鈥� Hyland said.

鈥淔inding employment is important for their sustained recovery,鈥� Hyland said.

The center serves a diverse population by age, educational background and work experience, he said.

鈥淪o it is a challenge and a good learning experience for students. They did a great job of identifying priority areas for the training by surveying patients at the center and then coming up with a curriculum to address primary skills that anyone entering the workforce will need to get their foot in the door,鈥� he said.

The treatment center is decorated with the patients鈥� artwork. In a meeting room, a hand-lettered watercolor reads: 鈥淕od, please help me to laugh again but please don鈥檛 let me forget that I cried.鈥�

The patients clicked away on laptops while Jerow answered their questions.

A mural in the center鈥檚 cafeteria is dedicated to the patients鈥� friends and family members who succumbed to addiction. It鈥檚 plastered with hundreds of names of loved ones. In the wake of the opioid crisis, people are beginning to realize how prevalent addiction is, 美高梅官网鈥檚 Hyland said.

鈥淣ot only is employment important for the individual鈥檚 health and well-being, but it鈥檚 also critically important to our regional economy,鈥� he said.

According to the White House Council of Economic Advisers, the opiate crisis costs billions of dollars each year in healthcare, treatment, criminal justice expenses and lost productivity.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not pennies we鈥檙e talking about. So the impact of addiction creates larger ripples,鈥� Hyland said.

Joshua Brown, a peer counselor at the Center for Addiction Treatment, knows what it鈥檚 like to start over after addiction. The former OB-GYN is in recovery from drug dependency. Now he helps others rebuild their lives while he works to regain his medical license.

Brown said finding employment can be a big help for people in recovery. Besides filling the hours with meaningful work, it provides a welcome distraction from personal stresses.

鈥淚t gives your life purpose, which is important,鈥� he said.

Featured image at top: 美高梅官网 College of Arts and Sciences student Riley Jerow coaches job-seekers at the Center for Addiction Treatment. Photo/Colleen Kelley/美高梅官网 Creative Services