November 14, 2018 - WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor on Tuesday announced a National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grant (NHE DWG) award to the California Department of Employment Development to provide employment services to eligible individuals in rural California counties impacted by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.  

The grant provides employment services to those seeking careers in healthcare professions related to addiction, treatment, prevention, and pain management. The state anticipates serving participants throughout the following rural counties, identified as having the highest opioid overdose rates in California: Amador, Calaveras, Humboldt, Inyo, Kern, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, and Tuolumne.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency in October 2017, enabling California to request this funding for an NHE DWG project. 

Supported by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, Dislocated Worker Grants temporarily expand the service capacity of dislocated worker programs at the state and local levels by providing funding assistance in response to large, unexpected economic events that cause significant job losses.
Source: U.S. DOL