Residents in recovery from substance use disorder in Buchanan County will continue to have access to employment and support services through the R.O.P.E.S. program after the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority awarded $814,060 in funding to support the initiative for Program Year 2027.
The funding, announced through a cooperative agreement with the Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board, will allow the Reengagement Opportunities and Pathways to Employment Success (R.O.P.E.S.) program to continue serving individuals in Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell and Wise counties, as well as the City of Norton.
The R.O.P.E.S. program is designed to help individuals in substance-use recovery overcome barriers that often prevent them from obtaining and maintaining employment. The program assists participants with challenges such as transportation, driver’s license restoration, healthcare access, education and job training.
Program officials said the goal is to help participants maintain sobriety while securing employment that provides a self-sustaining wage.
Since launching in 2019, the program has served nearly 300 individuals across Southwest Virginia who are working to rebuild their lives through recovery and employment.
“Dickenson County was pleased to serve as the fiscal agent for this project because we recognize the valuable work the Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board is doing to strengthen the recovery ecosystem in Dickenson County and throughout the region,” said Dana Cronkhite, economic development director for Dickenson County.
Existing funding sources that previously supported the program are nearing completion, making the new VOAA funding critical to maintaining services throughout the region.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority and our local government partners for helping ensure this program remains available to Southwest Virginians who are in recovery and transitioning into the workforce,” said Rachel Patton, executive director of the Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board. “The R.O.P.E.S. program has helped countless individuals regain their independence, maintain their recovery, and achieve meaningful employment. It remains in high demand throughout the region. In addition, the program has helped create a pipeline of skilled workers for regional businesses. We appreciate the opportunity to play a role in strengthening the region’s recovery ecosystem.”
The Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board administers workforce programs funded through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Those programs provide employment, training and workforce development services to adults, dislocated workers and youth throughout the region.
Officials said the services are designed to help individuals enter high-demand occupations and earn livable wages while remaining in their local communities.
The Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board serves eight jurisdictions across far Southwest Virginia, including Buchanan County.
Residents interested in learning more about the R.O.P.E.S. program or other workforce development services may visit the workforce board’s website for additional information.
