Unemployment, among other social determinants of health, is a risk factor for opioid use disorder (OUD) and opioid overdose death, and gainful and meaningful employment is a facilitator of sustaining OUD recovery. In a first of its kind initiative, in 2020 Kentucky passed legislation providing legal liability protection for companies that employ or hire individuals recovering from OUD. The resulting Kentucky Transformational Employment Program (KTEP), a collaboration between the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Foundation and four state agencies addressing addiction, serves two purposes: mitigating the state's labor shortage and providing individuals with OUD stable employment and support in achieving their recovery goals. By addressing OUD and other substance use disorders explicitly, and by encouraging recovery-friendly workplaces, KTEP also helps to reduce addiction stigma. 

The Workforce Recovery Program within the Kentucky Chamber Foundation provides training and consultation to businesses joining KTEP, as well as assistance in securing resources within the community. Talent pipelines are developed from both recovery centers and prisons/jails throughout the state. The Chamber also hosts the Fair Chance Academy, a three day training course that certifies KTEP employers.

Videos and written materials describing KTEP, as well as contact information, can be found at its home page. Using a step-by-step guide, participating businesses take an active role in connecting employees with evidence-based treatment programs and in monitoring their progress. As described in an employer checklist, businesses are required to develop written policies, including drug screens, establish agreements with treatment providers, conduct an internal evaluation, and transmit annual data to the Kentucky Chamber. Businesses seeking to join KTEP can consult a toolkit for employers on opioids and the workplace. News coverage of KTEP is available here.