Works Initiative News | Worker Wellness & Career Opportunities

Nicole’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

After her incarceration, Nicole focused on rebuilding her life. During her search for sustainable employment, she learned about the Missouri Works Initiative’s Apprentice Ready Program through the Keyway Center for Diversion and Reentry in St. Louis. “Valerie, a vocational specialist, gave me the information and support I needed to get started,” says Nicole.

The 5-week Apprentice Ready Program introduces individuals to the trades and unions. “I decided to apply because I have a background in the trades,” says Nicole. “It’s good work, good pay, and there’s always room to move up.”

“What I liked most about the program was that regardless of your situation, the people you meet genuinely want you to succeed and stay in touch,” Nicole shares. “Having someone in your corner like that makes a huge difference, and I’ll forever be grateful.”

The program changed Nicole’s life. “I know so much more about navigating union jobs now. I see the steps I need to take, which I couldn’t before. I was even offered a great job right away, which was amazing.”

If you’re seeking employment after incarceration, the Apprentice Ready Program might be the opportunity you need. Participants receive a bus pass, weekly stipend, and hands-on training to remove common barriers like transportation and financial strain. “If you want a career where your employer values you and your contribution, this is the place to start,” says Nicole.

Start your journey here.

January 31, 2025/by Missouri Works Initiative

Missouri Apprentice Ready Program, News, Success Stories

Samantha’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

Samantha started planning a new life for herself during her incarceration. “I heard about the Missouri Works Initiative program while in the Missouri Department of Corrections,” she says. “I applied because I wanted to change my life and pursue a career instead of just a job.”

The 5-week Apprentice Ready Program introduces participants to trades like plumbing, construction, and heavy equipment operation. Through hands-on opportunities and transportation support, participants are set up for success.

“I really enjoyed the program all the way around,” says Samantha. “Learning about the different trades showed me that, even as a woman, I can succeed in the construction industry.”

Sometimes all we need to rebuild our lives is someone who believes in us. “The program gave me the second chance I always needed but never got,” Samantha shares. “I now work in a great environment, learning new things daily.”

If you want to build a brighter future with sustainable income, Samantha urges you to consider the Apprentice Ready Program. “It’s an amazing opportunity and a great experience for anyone wanting to get into the trades,” she says. “I’m so grateful for the support and opportunities this program continues to provide.”

Start your journey here.

January 31, 2025/by Missouri Works Initiative

Missouri Apprentice Ready Program, News, Success Stories

Tylisha’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

Tylisha was looking for a career opportunity that offered a livable wage without requiring her to take on debt. When her roommate completed the Missouri Works Initiative’s Apprentice Ready Program, Tylisha felt inspired to apply.

“This is a 5-week program with exposure to each trade, and by the end, you’ll have a solid foot in the door of the construction world,” says Tylisha.

Throughout the program, participants gain hands-on experience, learn about the history of trade unions, and meet professionals in the field who answer their questions. They also receive a stipend, tools, and other essentials. “The program exposed me to every trade opportunity and provided information about contracted wages,” says Tylisha.

For Tylisha, the Apprentice Ready Program was the solution she needed. “It launched me into a career with zero college debt, livable wages, and great health benefits for my children and me,” she says.

If you’re looking for a creative, sustainable career without acquiring debt, consider the trades! “There’s no downside to completing this program,” Tylisha shares. “You’ll earn OSHA10 and First Aid certifications, as well as a trade future certification. Even if you don’t end up in construction, dedicating 5 weeks to learn something new is worth it!”

Start your journey here.

January 31, 2025/by Missouri Works Initiative

Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights January 27th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Jan 27, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how the Sacklers get a second bite at the “opioids settlement” apple—to how sleep/diet/oral health impact one’s mental health—to the +/- of how K-12 school systems are utilizing technology in their classrooms. This week I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the national spotlight activities of the past week and how history tends to repeat itself.

Terms like oligarchy and gilded age have popped up in the press several times since the 2024 presidential election. A concentration of power and wealth in a few is something this nation dealt with in the late 1800s-early 1900s. Names like Morgan, Rockefeller, and Carnegie controlled entire industries. Thanks to the Sherman Anti-Trust Act their reign was brought under control for the benefit of the many vs the few! Well, this past Monday, our nation was exposed to a revival of this reign when billionaires like Musk, Bezos, and Zuck were strategically seated on stage at Trump’s inauguration.

It is too early to tell what influence that the mega-rich might have on our nation as a whole in this new era. After all, some of the aforementioned recently resided in the Biden camp. Nonetheless, in times of danger (i.e., 9/11), we were told: If you see something, say something! It would be naive to think that money does not influence politicians’ leanings. For if this was true, an entire group of people—lobbyists—may no longer be employed. As with most aspects in our lives, an issue like technology can be viewed as good or bad. Just think how nice it is to have a cell phone when one has a flat tire. However, that same wonderful device can be used for the sex trafficking of underage kids. To this end, over the next few months, it will be incumbent upon ALL of us to have open minds and watchful eyes…but more importantly, if you see something, say something!

Sources: https://www.npr.org/2025/01/22/nx-s1-5269779/oligarchy-is-being-used-more-to-describe-american-society-we-ask-one-professor-why

https://wapo.st/4hugwUe

Natural Disasters & MH

Peer Support: Teen Helping Teens

Surviving Cancer

Tea & Coffee / Head & Neck Cancer

AI / MH / Workplace

Sacklers / Opioids Settlement / Round 2 (1)

Sacklers / Opioids Settlement / Round 2 (2)

Supporting Workers in Addiction Recovery

Aging / Mental Health / Caregiving Strain

Wellness & Well-being Highlights January 20th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Jan 20, 2025

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how OSHA will soon be requiring better fitting PPE—to tips on improving your sleep and taking naps—to how Costco has taken a stand against purging DEI. This week I would like to take this opportunity to tip my hat to a longtime friend and colleague, Sal Valadez. Sal has worked for LiUNA at the regional level for several years now. Most importantly, he has been a champion for minorities in the construction workforce and the communities where we live and serve. To this end, he was instrumental in the design, development, and implementation of the document linked below.

For the past decade+, Sal’s voice at a number of tables across our region ensured that minorities—of ALL stripes—were not left behind. As such, a few years back, he took the lead with ECORN-MO (Ethnic Communities Opioid Response Network – Missouri) and tackled a project that would make certain that ALL people have access to information regarding opioid use disorder at the neighborhood levels. On more than one occasion, I personally observed Sal in action speaking to a variety of concerned citizens, workers, business owners, etc. Whether it was a Muslim Cleric, Construction Contractor, or a University Researcher, he found ways to connect and reassure those people he would include their voice.

To say that Sal is a unicorn would be an understatement. Make no mistake, his upbringing molded his views of the world where kindness and a big heart made others feel at ease being around him. This was key in the connections he cultivated. I recently heard that Sal may soon be retiring. This, my friends, will leave a void…just about the time we started to make some positive headway concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion in an economic sector that has historically been dominated by white males.

To Sal: best wishes in your next chapter!

To you: Who out there will fill Sal’s shoes?

Source: https://attcnetwork.org/prevention-of-opioid-use-education-materials/

MHA: Take a Mental Health Test

Gen Z / Holistic Health / Employers

Managing Serious Health Care in America

COVID @ 5: What’s Next?

Emotion Therapy

PTSD Myths

OSHA & Proper PPE

Construction MH: Know Your People

Industries Supporting MH

Employers / MH / Burnout

Your Mouth & MH

Kids’ MH Chatbot

Non-addictive Painkiller?

OUD & Multi-Language Resources

Update: Sacklers Opioids Settlement

Scams / Addiction / Death

Alcohol Misuse / Recovery / Naltrexone

Wellness & Well-being Highlights January 13th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Jan 13th, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at a couple of outgoing messages regarding building stronger connections and communities from the US Surgeon General—to a couple of tips for keeping to your 2025 exercise-related resolutions—to why learning American Sign Language has the potential to make us better communicators. This week I would like to take this opportunity to review recent comments made by former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich about Trump’s upcoming second term (Full disclosure: I served under Reich in the first term of the Clinton Administration on the NAALC (US National Advisory Committee on the labor side agreement to the NAFTA)).

In his essay, we are asked to protect these 4 major pillars of resistance:

Universities

Watch for attempts to discredit regional accreditation bodies

Non-profits

Watch for misleading information linking activism to terrorism

The Media

Watch for attempts to intimidate outlets with “sanewashing” untruths

Organized Labor

Watch for increased opposition to organizing the unorganized.

I encourage each of you to read Reich’s work linked below. And, “remember: We only lose if we stop fighting.” Thank you!

Source: https://robertreich.substack.com/p/how-trump-is-seeking-to-destroy-the?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=ely0o&triedRedirect=true

US Surgeon General / Holidays / Loneliness

US Surgeon General on Stronger Communities

Social Isolation Assessment

Dark Side of Military

Fire / Smoke / Air Quality

Wellness & Well-being Highlights January 6th

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Jan 6th, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at why Gen Z struggles in the workplace—to a variety of articles on the dangers of alcohol and what is a “Dry vs Damp” January—to mix of articles covering how proper sleep, exercise, and breathing are good for one’s Mental Health. This week I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt condolences to the family of Jimmy Carter—the 39^th US President—who passed away this past week at the age of 100.

As a student of organizational leadership, I always admired Abraham Lincoln. After all, he led a divided country through a very tumultuous period. As the ultimate unifier, I will always consider him the greatest president while in office. However, when it comes to the greatest president after one’s term in office, I cannot think of a better role model than Jimmy Carter.

Whether it was advancing human rights, fighting global diseases, building homes for the needy, or intervening in and consulting on another country’s affairs (sometimes not appreciated by that period’s current US administration) former President Carter spoke his mind…backed by the wisdom that comes from years of experience as an officer, farmer, businessman, Sunday School Teacher, and governor. While in office he brokered the Camp David Accords (1978) as well as created the US Departments of Education and Energy. For the sake of this blog, most importantly, Jimmy Carter took a positive stand on Mental Health as noted below…and, for this, I am grateful!

Shortly after assuming office in early 1977, Jimmy Carter created a presidential commission on mental health. His action suggested the existence of deep-rooted problems in a mental health system that was fragmented, lacked cohesion, and often failed to meet the needs of many groups, notably those individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses. The creation of such a commission also had an important symbolic element, for it indicated the president’s awareness and concern.

The provisions of the Mental Health Systems Act reflected the ambiguities and contradictions that had been characteristic of mental health policy during the preceding two decades. The act reaffirmed the priority for community mental health services, particularly for such underserved groups as individuals with chronic mental illnesses, children and youth, the elderly, ethnic and racial minorities, women, the poor, and rural residents. It emphasized planning and accountability and mandated “performance contracts” as a condition for federal funding, the creation of new intergovernmental relationships, and closer links between the mental health and the general health care systems.

Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2690151/

Happy 2025: Re-thinking Your Resolutions

The Secret to Happiness

Gen Z / Workplace / Struggles

Burnout / Culture / Thriving

Flexible Work & Burnout

Brain Health Quiz (Depression/Dementia)

2025 Brain Health Advice

Brits / Ukraine / Battle Stress

First Responders & Psilocybin Retreats

MO / Cannabis / Public Health

Outrunning Schizophrenia?

Wellness & Well-being Highlights December 30

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Dec 30, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how Mexico is bracing for a possible US Military intervention following the 2025 US President’s inauguration—to how US homelessness increased in 2024—to a report on H-2B visas (The H-2B visa program was established to help U.S. businesses fill labor temporary shortages, especially during peak production periods…in non-ag jobs) status according to each state. This week I would like to take this opportunity to shed some light on the withdrawal of the US-DOL’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) on Jan 17, 2024.

To refresh your memory, the US-DOL’s Office of Apprenticeship (OA)—early in 2024—opened the process to revise/update 29CFR29 and 29CFR30…the standards that govern RAPs. Among several other issues, “they sought to enhance worker protections and equity, improving the quality of registered apprenticeship programs….” During the “open comment” period that lasted through mid-March, the US-DOL received over 2100 comments of which 333 were unique comments while 22 were duplicates or not related to the subject of this rulemaking. If you recall, nearly one year ago, I kindly asked our readers to weigh in on the importance of including the subject of “Mental Health” as a mandatory training requirement for all RAPs going forward…more on this later!

Below is a brief summary of their findings:

The Department broadly notes that the breadth and diversity of stakeholders commenting, as well as the unique perspectives provided, is a testament to the strength and growth of the registered apprenticeship model overall as a solution to America’s workforce needs across a wide range of industries. The Department believes that the dialogue spurred by the NPRM demonstrates a need for a robust and modernized approach to registered apprenticeship with more clearly defined roles and responsibilities, more points of entry, and improved accessibility for employers to join or register programs and for job seekers to become apprentices in those programs….

By withdrawing the proposed rule, the Department is eliminating the pending nature of this rulemaking. The Department intends to engage with all interested parties to discuss and consider future enhancements and impacts for the quality and expansion of registered apprenticeship and the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in the National Apprenticeship System….

However, not all was lost in the process of making sausage! As noted above, the US-DOL did find a means to provide RAPs with a cup “half-full” when it came to the issue of providing Mental Health trainings. To this end, I was contacted by OA staff in Q1-2024 and asked to assist them in the development of 2 micro-videos for their learning library concerning Mental Health for Apprentices (Well-being) and What Sponsors need to know (Wellness). As noted earlier in this blog, these 2 videos were launched in Q3-2024 (See links below) for more information and PLEASE share as you see fit.

US-DOL OA’s Mental Health for Pre-Apprentices & Apprentices
Prioritizing Your Mental Health and Well-being
US-DOL OA’s Mental Health for Sponsors (Contractors, Unions, JATCs, etc.)
Promoting Worker Mental Health and Wellness

Source: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-12-27/pdf/2024-31078.pdf?utm_campaign=subscription+mailing+list&utm_medium=email&utm_source=federalregister.gov

Protecting US Miners & Taxpayers

Therapy Dogs / Doctors-Nurses / Trauma

States / Failures / ADA

Cocaine’s rise in EU

Teens / Pot / Dabbing

US Guns Fuel Mexico’s Drug Trade

Mexico / Drug Cartels / US Military

How Mexican Cartels Test Fentanyl

FDA Targets Edible Mushrooms

Wellness & Well-being Highlights December 23

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Dec 23, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how a new KC program, REACH, is steering people with Mental Health and SUD issues towards care providers in an attempt to divert them from the criminal justice system—to how pharmacy benefit managers may have played a key role in the US opioids crisis—to how AI is being misused to exploit innocent (often underage) victims. This week I would like to take this opportunity to shed some light on an old behavior with a new name: Cancer Ghosting.¹Basically, this is when someone you know and love informs you of their cancer diagnosis…and, you, in turn, avoid ANY contact with him/her from that point forward. Thus, isolating the cancer victim from his/her support network and possibly causing more damage than the cancer itself!

When I heard this story on NPR earlier this week, I could not help but think of how this concept somewhat applied to me (and my family) after the loss of our oldest son, John Jr, to suicide in March 2017. To be sure, soon thereafter, we would encounter a few long-time friends from the area in the grocery store only for them to do a 180 and high-tail it to another portion of the store in order to avoid contact with us. In general, experts suggests that this behavior is related to those people not knowing what to say or having the fear of saying the wrong thing. If you fall into this category, please take Megan Devine’s advice. She wrote a book on grief a few years back (It’s OK that You’re Not OK) and in the appendix she addressed how to help a grieving friend (What to / not to say). In her words, “Acknowledgement helps make things better even when they cannot be made right.”²

This brings me to my latest research on Suicide Postvention in the Construction Industry. There was a point this fall where I received 8 phone calls over a 12-week period regarding suicides (attempts or deaths). For years now, I have been contemplating why are there so many Suicide Prevention and Suicide Intervention programs available but hardly any focused on Suicide Postvention…especially for the Construction Industry and in, what I call, the First 48 (hours) also known as the acute phase. Those 8 calls moved me to take action. In fact, I just wrapped up the survey phase and am about to enter the interview phase. Hopefully, late spring/early summer of 2025 I will have completed the study and will share a report/action plan with our readers. One thing you can be sure of is that I will definitely address the phenomenon of ghosting during that acute phase of Suicide Postvention…which I will appropriately name it ghostvention!

Sources: [1]https://www.npr.org/2024/12/18/nx-s1-5179011/cancer-ghosting-survivorship-young-survivors [2] https://refugeingrief.com/videos/how-to-help-a-grieving-friend-the-animation

KC’s New MH program

OSHA / PPE Rule / Jan 13

Construction Fatalities Rose in 2023

Opioids Settlement Fund’s Database

PBM’s role in the Opioids Crisis

A Dangerous Substitute for Narcan

Wellness & Well-being Highlights December 16

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of Dec 16, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at the decrease in US opioids overdose deaths as well as the twists in recent settlements—to the increase in interests regarding once-banned psychedelics for MH treatments—to how low birthrates and growing elderly populations are negatively impacting friends and foes of the USA. This week I would like to take this opportunity to shed some light on the importance of MATH scores.

Nearly 20 years ago, I sat down to begin writing my doctoral dissertation…on of all things: MATH. Since the early 2000s I was serving on a number of advisory committees at the local, regional, national, and international levels that focused on improving student outcomes…especially when it came to MATH. So, here we are 2 decades later still worrying about the future of our nation and our kids.

Some of you may have recently read the 2 WSJ articles I will be soon citing. A few of you may be saying to yourself: Why is the WSJ—a “conservative business” paper—reporting on issues related to MATH (and kids)? The fact is that MATH is all around us! On one hand, the daily news reports you read or hear often use statistics related to a study to make their point. On the other hand, what just popped up on your cell phone’s feed is based on algorithms…in short, MATH. Unfortunately, due to laws like NCLB (No Child Left Behind), many of the so-called fixes were rushed into the marketplace. Sadly, most of these were based on anecdotal data vs empirical evidence. To this end, in my doctoral research, I felt compelled to set the record straight…for better or worse. The idea of “embedding” MATH credit in other required topics during the school day—and counting this as MATH towards graduation—worked better on paper than in the real world…at least in my pilot study…which was later published in a peer-reviewed journal!

The first article suggests that US student MATH scores dipped.1 While some of this was related to COVID’s school closures and learning loss, in reality our kids’ math scores (2023) remain above the international average according to TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics & Science Study).

Why is this important? Because this test has long been viewed as an “economic predictor” of student and country success. Meanwhile, the second article indicates that American adults are falling behind their international competition.2 The most recent tally of the PISA (Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies)—wherein adults in 31 industrialized countries across the globe were tested on numeracy and problem solving skills—noted that the recent US adults “problem solving” scores dropped their ranking to 24 out of 31…below the international average. These authors suggest that the latest scores (2023) may be due to more screen time and less reading. Why is this important? Because employers might have a hard time finding workers with basic critical thinking skills.

My point? As a nation, we need to stop viewing MATH as a four-letter word and begin acknowledging its importance to everyday living. Where can we start? 1. In the home: Take the time to explain to your children how MATH is a tool that can be leveraged to solve small and big problems…whether it’s a cooking recipe or building a deck. 2. In the schools: I, for one, believe it is more important to teach our high-schoolers stats than pre-calc. Why? Not all students will go on to become doctors or engineers…but ALL students will go on to become consumers and workers!

Sources: [1]https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/us-student-test-scores-covid-impact-bf3ec65a?st=iPFMUE&reflink=article_gmail_share

[2]https://www.wsj.com/us-news/america-us-math-proficiency-falling-1b5ac73c?st=Jrw8z2&reflink=article_gmail_share

US Students & Math Scores

US Adults & Math Scores

US Overdose Deaths Decline

McKinsey Settles Fed Opioids Claim

OH ruling / Opioids / Public Nuisance Claim