Works Initiative News | Worker Wellness & Career Opportunities

Wellness & Well-being Highlights June 10

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of June 10, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights how even in one of the most conservative states (FL), there is a harm reduction program assisting people with SUD/OUD—to how some odd versions of cancer have recently emerged since the end of the pandemic—to empirical evidence revealing how heading the ball in soccer is dangerous. This week I would like to discuss a new and exciting program addressing our youth’s mental health crisis. The Youth Mental Health Corps (YMHC) will train and pay peers stipends. A second-order goal of the program is to develop tomorrow’s social workers, therapists, etc. As AmeriCorps was an outgrowth of the Peace Corps nearly 30 years ago, the YMHC follows in AmeriCorps’ path. A major focus of the initial project is on Latino/a/x youth. Reports suggest that nearly ½ of these youth—18 to 25—do not reach out for help. A big issue is that many Latinos feel the effects of discrimination in our society—especially immigrants—and this impacts their self-worth.

Accordingly, I tip my hat to a long-time friend and colleague, Sal Valdez, as he expressed his joy regarding the above mentioned matter earlier this past week. Rightfully so, since he has been a champion of ALL workers of color for years and currently serves as the ECORN-MO chair. In addition, James Pursell, LEAN-STL, Laborer Peer Specialist, sent me as well. He expressed how awesome this specific youth peer project is and hopes to see it grow. This coming from one-half of a local team that has won numerous awards throughout the STL region over the past year for their dedication to brother and sister members and their families struggling with mental health, substance misuse, and suicidal ideation.

How long will it be before other trades, industrial sectors, and non-profits implement creative solutions like YMHC or LEAN-STL? In closing, I paraphrase my buddy, Brandon Anderson (AGC-MO VP Safety), “When it comes to mental health, the time has come…our region needs less talk and more action.”

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/youth-mental-health-corps-rcna155574

A Youth Corps for MH

Harm Reduction in FL?

Narcan in Soulard

Canada’s New Suicide Prevention Plan

MDMA Therapy &PTSD

Gun violence’s footprint

Race / Death / Maternity

Lung cancer / Treatments / Cure?

COVID & Cancer?

Wellness & Well-being Highlights June 3

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of June 3, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights provides yet another twist in the efforts to reduce opioid deaths: Medetomidine…while at the same time dives into how people in NC and CO are responding to the OUD crisis—to the ongoing debate on how to address HEAT in the workplace—to the election of Mexico’s next president…a woman for the first time in their history. This week, as we come to the close of Mental Health month, I would like to discuss how a Cook County sheriff’s department is utilizing virtual technology to provide Mental Health assistance in the field. In a world of what appears to be across the board worker shortages, innovation is key to remaining relevant. Hardly a week goes by where a news story does not mention: 1) the Mental Health needs of a given community or sector and, then, immediately follows up by saying there is a shortage of MH professionals in the US; and 2) another seemingly innocent citizen has been shot by a police officer. As noted, police are not the best qualified to help someone with a MH crisis. Yet, nearly 1 in 4 deadly law enforcement shootings involves a person with a serious mental illness. This is why and how the CVAP (co-responder virtual assistance program) comes into play. De-escalation is key to keeping ALL parties safe. In fact, the use of a police-provided tablet to connect a person requiring assistance with a MH counselor in real time not only protects the counselor but allows for a more efficient use of this counselor’s time to handle additional calls. While one may argue that in-person encounters may be more effective, we must keep in mind that ~40% of people in the US live in an area with a shortage of MH professionals…especially when it comes to rural and economically-stressed urban areas. Recent stats show that nearly 60% of CVAP calls were related to MH and >20% involved SUDs. More importantly, the CVAP was used 650 times in 2021 without a resulting arrest or use of force!

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mental-health-counselors-911-sheriff-virtual-solution/

Women / Vets / Homelessness

Construction Work & Road Safety

Medetomidine: The New Fentanyl OD Culprit

KUSH & Sierra Leone

>300k US Children Lost Parents to ODs

CO high school students & ODs

NC’s fight against opioid ODs

Harm Reduction + Clean Needles = Illegal?

Sheriff / MH Counselors / Technology

PTSD & Canadians

American Workers & Loneliness

Vets / CO / Gun Safes

Stress & Personality

How to stop checking your phone?

Deadly HEAT in the Workplace

Wellness & Well-being Highlights May 27

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of May 27, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights an AI-based suicide prevention program for Vets that uses an algorithm that fails to take into account the sexual harassment/trauma female soldiers have experienced—to the importance our workers’ financial wellness regarding both mind and body—to how & why Mexican cartels have turned inward to now extort Mom & Pop tortilla shops. This week I would like to discuss the 2 breaking articles pertaining to Fentanyl in the USA. In the first article, the author eluded to the fact that related overdose deaths in 2023 were down from the year before…so, therefore, Fentanyl deaths in the US have peaked.¹ He went on the say, “The opioid epidemic appears to have entered that final phase.” On so many levels this is a misguided assumption. First and foremost, while this author did indicate that Narcan played a significant role in the aforementioned decrease, he totally missed acknowledging the advent of the 4^th Wave of the US Opioids Crisis: Polysubstances (I wrote about the “4 Waves” just a few weeks ago in this blog). The second article provides us with a different perspective by suggesting that related youth overdose deaths are actually increasing.² These authors posit that Fentanyl-related deaths for children 12-17 yo have doubled since the start of COVID. Experts point to the easy access of “fake” pills plus pandemic isolation/trauma^{3, 4} as culprits in this spike. Fortunately, schools are stocking Narcan and teaching people in the community about the dangers of Fentanyl. Unfortunately, many doctors are ill-prepared to counsel these younger patients on opioid misuse. In the DC area alone, Hispanics make up 40% of these visits. NOTE: While White teens comprise most of the opioid-related deaths nationwide, Black and Hispanic teens are now dying at a faster rate. If one buys into the notion that adolescence is about pushing boundaries and experimentation then it is incumbent upon those of us who are older and wiser not forget the new adage: ONE PILL CAN KILL.

Sources: [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/21/briefing/has-fentanyl-peaked.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

[2] https://wapo.st/3wQENC8

[3] https://www.relias.com/resource/racial-trauma-understanding-race-based-traumatic-stress?utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=7013w000002HbayAAC

[4] https://go.timelycare.com/l/916941/2024-05-17/t52m2/916941/1715969310eIvUsRm1/Report_Call_For_Campus…

Vets / Suicide Prevention / AI

Youth / Hmong / Suicide

Youth OD Deaths & Fentanyl

US Fentanyl Deaths: Update

Employers / Safety / SUD / Workers

Cannabis or Alcohol?

Cannabis / Seniors / Poisonings

A Tie-dyed Trip

Race-based Trauma

Mental Disorders & Teens

Financial Wellness (1)

Financial Wellness (2)

Financial Therapy: Handling Money & The Mind

Birdwatching & MH

Coping w/ Anxiety

Agreeing to Disagree

Anger’s damage: Mental & Physical

“Period Poverty” Awareness

AI & Skin Cancer

Report on Student Loneliness

How to Cook Cicadas

Disneyland’s Union Actors

Held hostage: Hospitals / Unions / Insurance Plans

Boilermakers’ corruption

BMW/VW & Forced Labor?

Mexico / Cartels / Tortillas

What ALL workers want?

Ukraine & Women in the workforce

Women in construction (1)

Women in construction (2)

Why double-major in college?

Paying for friendships?

Chocolate turmoil (1)

Chocolate turmoil (2)

Paid College Athletes?

TBIs & Family Decisions

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Sleep Hygiene

Student Loneliness

FREE Diaper Distribution

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact johngaal@moaflcio.org with related questions or comments.

May 21, 2024/by Missouri Works Initiative

Missouri Apprentice Ready Program, News, Success Stories

Bre’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

As a single mother of three young children, Bre was looking for a sustainable career that would empower her to provide for her family. “I heard about the Apprentice Ready Program in St. Louis through my son’s dad. He graduated and became a laborer,” says Bre. “I decided to apply because I love working with my hands and wanted to experience something new and different. So, I was willing to take a chance to better my future for my children and myself.”

Bre really appreciates that the Missouri Works Initiative is focused on helping others and having genuine people available who listen and understand. “What I liked most about the program is that my instructor, Ms. Aurora Bihler, took her job extremely seriously to help make sure we all did or had what was needed to succeed,” shares Bre. “She did that by going out of her way sometimes to help me take care of business so that I could be successful in the Building Union Diversity (BUD STL) program as well as out in the construction field.”

Additionally, Bre appreciated the immersive aspects of the Apprentice Ready Program and access to necessary materials. “I enjoyed the hands-on activities we did, whether doing the tile for a floor mock up or making a mini air duct. I also liked how at the end of the program they pay for your exact tools which you will need on the job.”

Bre’s perseverance has paid off as she now enjoys a successful new career. Not only has she improved her life and the lives of her children, but she has advocated for pumping facilities on the job site, which paves the way for other mothers in the trades. “The program has changed my life because, since completing the program, I have become a painter,” shares Bre. “My children and I now have our own house and I’m able to provide for my family consistently.”

Are you a single mom looking for a reliable career with great growth potential? Bre encourages you to enter the trades. “Join the Apprentice Ready Program, it’s a win-win situation! You’ll have fun, learn new and important information, and get access to various resources to help you succeed. It’s a great step towards a career.”

Start your journey here.

May 15, 2024/by Missouri Works Initiative

In the News, Partner Spotlight

Partner Spotlight: Larry Woods

The Diversity Division of The Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) partnered with the Missouri Works Initiative’s Building Union Diversity Program (BUD STL) in St. Louis to establish the Workforce Development Grant Program. According to Larry Woods, Diversity Construction Supervisor with the MSD, “Our Diversity Division is unwavering in its commitment to the initiation and support of programs and endeavors designed to create a trained, qualified workforce of minorities and females in the field of sewer construction. The Workforce Development Grant Program has helped create a pool of qualified individuals including minorities and women. The resultant workforce is equipped to fulfill our pre-set “boots on the ground” workforce goals for our capital improvement projects. This approach also allows for employment opportunities for under- and unemployed individuals within the communities we serve.”

Larry’s role with the program is multifaceted, including vital behind-the-scenes work to help students get hired and to ensure underrepresented individuals are gainfully employed on job sites. “I regularly speak to the new cohorts of the Building Union Diversity Program discussing the requirements, opportunities, and benefits associated with employment in the sewer construction industry,” says Larry. “This active engagement also involves hosting on-site job tours where participants can gain real-life insights and understanding of the industry.” Woods regularly attends the Apprentice Ready Program in St. Louis-hosted hiring events and graduation ceremonies and provides continual follow-up support to program graduates, ensuring their transition into the industry is as smooth as possible.

“I wholeheartedly believe that Missourians who participate in this program stand to gain immensely. The program affords participants invaluable skills and resources and provides a solid foundation of support. With these tools, individuals are empowered to secure occupations in a trade, in turn enabling them to earn a decent living and provide for their families,” says Woods.

With the unique opportunity to see students through the whole program, Larry’s favorite aspect is watching them come full circle. “If I had to narrow down my favorite aspect of the program, it would undoubtedly be witnessing the journeys of the individuals who participate in the program. From the initial stages right through to their ultimate success, being able to chart this progression is deeply rewarding. Regular updates and heartfelt expressions of gratitude from participants serve as constant reminders of the significance of our efforts,” shares Larry.

Woods believes the BUD STL Apprentice Ready Program is already shaping the social and economic landscape. “By opening up opportunities to individuals who are often overlooked or underserved, the program is cultivating a new generation of construction industry workers,” he says. “This fresh intake of talent and innovation broadens the scope of inclusion within the industry. In doing so, those who may have previously encountered barriers to entry are being given a platform to succeed. These individuals not only contribute to the existing workforce but are also an integral part of future infrastructural upgrades. In essence, the program is paving the way for sustained, long-term development that will serve our needs now and into the future.”

May 15, 2024/by Missouri Works Initiative

Missouri Apprentice Ready Program, News, Success Stories

Keon’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

Keon is a graduate of the Missouri Works Initiative’s very first Mid-Missouri Apprentice Ready Program cohort. “I had wanted to get into a union and learn more about them. I saw the program advertised online, so I signed up for it,” says Keon. “They were able to give me all the information I needed and help me get started.”

When asked about his favorite aspect of the Apprentice Ready Program, Keon shared that the opportunity to see the trades in action and meet union members really made an impression on him. “I liked how we got to visit different halls and sites,” he said. “We learned so much about all the different kinds of trades professions there are.”

Now that Keon has graduated, he is looking towards the future. “I got to apply to do something I like doing,” says Keon, “but I’m also looking forward to retiring one day with great benefits! I’m also OSHA certified and CPR/First Aid/AED certified as well.”

If you or someone you know is looking for a career that will last for the long haul, Keon encourages you to apply for the Missouri Works Apprentice Ready Program. “Do it!” Keon says. “It was amazing and you’ll learn a lot of things. It doesn’t hurt to try something new or to get more information about something you already know. There was a person named Doug Swanson who taught labor history to us and said that you should always want to know more!”

Start your journey here.

May 15, 2024/by Missouri Works Initiative

Missouri Apprentice Ready Program, News, Success Stories

Jacob’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

As a veteran, Jacob was looking for a fulfilling new career that would meet his financial needs. “I heard about the Missouri Apprentice Ready Program (MAR) for the building trades from an ad on Facebook,” he shares. “My girlfriend and I were both browsing on our phones when she told me about a really cool-looking program for the building trades. She showed me the homepage for the Missouri AFL-CIO, which displayed the pictures of past classes and a few resources they provide their applicants.”

“I decided to apply, because I was tired of dead-end jobs,” says Jacob. “I was tired of working hard for a temporary job that wouldn’t build me a career path. I realized that I was ready to start building a career to brighten the path to my future.”

Jacob thoroughly enjoyed his cohort experience and learned everything he needed to know to begin building a new career. “After going through the program, I realized that I enjoyed the small class feel of the group,” says Jacob. “It made digesting material easier, and it allowed for open-floor discussions. This made it very simple to ask questions freely. I also enjoyed getting to familiarize myself with the trades we saw, many of which I did not know existed or knew little about.”

After graduating, Jacob has settled in his ideal apprenticeship. “Since graduation, I have become an apprentice with the Local Carpenters Union here in Springfield, an honor I never dreamed of holding,” he says. “I have worked on a number of job sites in and around the Springfield area. I am currently employed with Zickel Flooring and plan to continue to build my career. Beyond the apprenticeship, I have been able to sustain myself and even grow financially as well as intellectually.”

“If someone were to ask me about joining the Missouri Apprentice Ready Program, I would highly recommend it. I’ve been able to change the trajectory of my life because of the resources provided to me by the Missouri AFL-CIO,” shares Jacob. “They will do everything in their power to help you succeed. If this is something you want–a career in the building trades–then this is a great path.”

Start your journey here.

May 15, 2024/by Missouri Works Initiative

Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights May 13

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of May 13, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights whether or not smartphones are causing anxiety in teens and negatively impacting the attention span of adults—to how some communities welcome immigrants while others reject them…in spite of a worker shortage—to how the renaming of schools is retraumatizing citizens in a VA school district. This week I want to focus on the activities and input from an array of local construction contractors who are leading by example when it comes to their workers’ Mental Health…after all, May is Mental Health Awareness month! Last week we saw Holland Construction Services sponsor an all-day (free) event at the campus of SIUE. It was refreshing to see their CEO open and close the day with meaningful messages plus a commitment to continue the work beyond last Tuesday.[1] One highlight of the event was hearing from my friend, Mandi Kime, Safety Director of AGC Washington. Her personal story regarding mental health as a single mother of 4, was nothing short of inspiring. I am always intrigued by people who use their “private” struggles to help benefit others. In this case, Mandi shared how she focused her master’s degree thesis on mental health in the construction industry. As a result, WE now have access to one of the best (free) online short courses pertaining to suicide prevention in the construction industry.[2] If you have not taken this ~1 hour course, I highly encourage you to do so and PLEASE share the link with your networks. Once again, I tip my hat to Mandi for sharing her personal journey of tragedy to triumph! On another note, an old friend, Thom Kuhn, shares the lasting impact of his journey with mental health on his family and company.[3] Finally, Jenn and Maggie at SM Wilson are doing their part ensuring that May is not the ONLY month our industry shines a spotlight on Mental Health.[4]

In closing, COVID unintentionally aided in normalizing the once-taboo topic of Mental Health in our industry. As we can see from the 3 local industry leaders above, it is time to “Walk the Talk.” Often, the first step in a journey is the most difficult…especially when we are expected to swim in unfamiliar waters. That is why WE need to provide access to programs to assist YOU in joining us in our efforts to move this work forward. To this end, PLEASE consider joining us this Wednesday for the first of a three-part seminar (free) series on mental health, suicide prevention, and substance use awareness.[5]

I hope to see you soon!

Sources: [1] https://www.constructforstl.org/got-a-minute-save-a-life-message-from-hollands-mental-health-symposium/

[2] https://intheforefront.org/preventing-suicide-in-the-construction-industry/

[3] https://www.constructforstl.org/thom-kuhn-when-mental-health-strikes-home/

[4] https://www.constructforstl.org/mental-health-in-construction-how-an-industry-is-coming-together-to-help/

[5] https://www.constructforstl.org/free-programs-offer-path-to-mental-health-culture-for-construction/

MH / Construction / Leadership

MH / Construction / Leader (1)

MH / Construction / Leader (2)

MH / Construction / Leader (3)

Employees expect Employers to invest in well-being

Employers / MH / Digital Tool Kits

NYC Construction Deaths

NYC Subway / Homeless / MH

MH & Lawyer’s Journey

Prison & MH

Smartphones / Teens / Anxiety?

Smartphones & Attention Span

Loneliness & Life Span

Loneliness & Dementia

Contractor adopts Narcan policy

Opioids & >300k Orphans

Opioids / Families / Compassion

Fentanyl / Child Deaths / Investigations

Clearing out an Open Air Drug Market

How will Psychedelics impact the Workplace?

A cure for Sickle Cell?

Cancer/ Family / p53 Gene

Pregnancy & The Brain

Women / Work / Happiness?

Miss USA Resigns

Wellness & Well-being Highlights May 6

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of May 6, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights the issues faced by the number of adolescents who are caring for their parents and/or grandparents…which may impede their growth in education and socialization—to how to prepare for and obtain healthy sleeping habits—to the importance of taking the stairs v riding the elevator. This week I would like to focus on the issue of money laundering. Anyone who has read more than 2 editions of this weekly blog knows that I have 3 goals: destigmatizing Mental Health, providing awareness and actions regarding the opioids crisis, and preventing suicides at home and in the workplace. It is no secret that when more and more states legalized marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes, we put a dent in the Mexican cartels’ revenue stream. Being shrewd business people, they turned to a new, easier to produce, and more addictive (and deadly) products to recapture those losses: first heroin and then fentanyl. A recent news story indicates that a Canadian bank allegedly laundered those profits back to Chinese suppliers…the ones that still provide the precursor chemicals to the Mexican cartels. In turn, they make Fentanyl and then distribute it thru their US networks. A few decades ago, for a short time, I worked as a labor liaison for the UBCJA in Mexico. Many of meals were shared with Mexican contractors. Often, our conversations turned towards the issue of supply and demand. A quote from one of those in attendance never veers far from my mind: “If US consumers would stop using illegal drugs (demand) Mexico would stop sending them north” (supply). If it were only that simple! The fact is that >70% of the US people who began to use heroin for the first time started their journey by means of a legal prescription for opioids.

Here’s a brief overview of the “waves” related to the opioids crisis in the USA:

1^st wave: overprescribing of legal opioids (mainly for chronic pain v its intended use: acute pain)

[early 1990s to ~2002]

2^nd wave: users turning to heroin to feed their need (since the feds put doctors on notice regarding monitoring the number of Rx they issue…thus placing their license to practice in jeopardy)

[~2003 to ~2012]

3^rd wave: Fentanyl (a synthetic opioid that is 50-100x more powerful than heroin…much easier to produce and distribute than heroin)

[~2012 to ~2016]

4^th wave: Polysubstances (mixing Fentanyl into non-opioids such as meth, cocaine, and Xylazine. NOTE: While Narcan has a good track record saving lives…it cannot reverse a non-opioid overdose. Therefore, rescue breathing skills are vital.)

[~2016 to present]

Without a doubt, there are many players who—intentionally or unintentionally—created the mess our nation currently faces. Like with most aspects of our lives, it would be irresponsible to blame one group or the other (i.e. doctors, Big Pharma, Congress, cartels, etc.). As you will find in the article linked below, institutions that handle large sums of money have played a significant part as well!

Source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/td-bank-probe-tied-to-laundering-of-illicit-fentanyl-profits-aae71243?st=kkcewja2kqgg6es&reflink=article_gmail_share

When children care for parents

Vets / Families / Trauma

Today’s POW & Trauma

DOJ & Marijuana

Govts sit on Opioids Settlements

Ensuring Psychological Safety @ Work

Healthy Sleep

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 29

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of April 29, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights how next month’s college grads have experienced turmoil from pandemic to protests—to how a world-renowned consulting firm is being held accountable for its part in the US opioids crisis—to how employment-related non-compete clauses are being challenged since they tend to limit a worker’s freedom of movement in the marketplace. This week I would like to focus on the recently released report from the AFL-CIO: Death on the Job. This is the 33^rd edition of a report that is published for the benefit of ALL workers: union and non-union…white- and blue-collar. Since the passing of the OSH Act one-half century ago, nearly 700,000 workers lives have been saved. This means of transparency serves as a tool to inform the “public” regarding workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Let’s face it, since 1970, business-friendly administrations in DC have found ways to limit the effectiveness of OSHA—from flat-funding and understaffing to lobbying for weaker rules (and penalties) that place workers at various levels of risk. We cannot ignore the facts, in 2022: over 100,000 workers died from occupational diseases; >40 died from heat-related issues; and workplace homicides and suicides, overdoses, and violence-injuries all increased from 2021. To be sure, we must pay closer attention in ensuring the safety of Black and Latino workers as well as our Older and Younger workers on the job. How is this possible with only 1 OSHA inspector for every ~80,000 workers? It is incumbent upon each of us to get educated. Reading the report linked below is a great place to start. The need to properly staff OSHA requires your input at the local, state, and national levels. However, this is just the beginning. Among a host of other issues, a robust system also requires adequate reporting in order to properly address hazards in a timely manner. In closing, workers should not fear retaliation for reporting unsafe workplace conditions. Simply put…Is it too much to ask that workers come home each day unharmed?

Source: https://aflcio.org/reports/dotj-2024?link_id=2&can_id=71c1079675e0cff5353ba02e01be98ef&source=email-dotj-version-b&email_referrer=email_2294320&email_subject=death-on-the-job

Construction Workers & Fall Safety

Death on the Job Report

Mind the Workplace Report

2024 National Strategy: Suicide Prevention

Class of 2024: From Anxiety to Anger

College Students & Self-Care

Why are women leaving employers?

Mental Stim / Work / Dementia

Stress & Lowering Cortisol

Weed & Withdrawal

McKinsey / Opioids / Crime