Sparking a Path from Recovery to Employment

Finding and keeping a job can be one of the most powerful steps in a person’s recovery journey. Yet for many individuals working to rebuild their lives after addiction, that next step can also be one of the hardest.

To help bridge that gap, Ten16 Recovery Network and The Legacy Center for Community Success (TLC) have formed a new partnership, funded by a SPARK Grant from the Midland County United Way. Together, they’re building a stronger pathway from recovery to employment—one that combines education, coaching, and connection to foster long-term stability.

A Collaboration Rooted in Recovery and Growth

Ten16 Recovery Network has long been a trusted leader in helping people overcome substance use disorders through a continuum of care that includes residential and outpatient treatment, recovery housing, peer support, and collegiate recovery programs. More recently, Ten16 joined a statewide initiative to develop Recovery Friendly Workplaces, helping employers create supportive environments for people in recovery to succeed on the job.

Meanwhile, The Legacy Center has been expanding opportunities for adult learners in Midland County through its individualized, self-paced educational programs. Earlier this year, TLC began offering its workforce readiness curriculum onsite at Ten16’s Midland Recovery Center, bringing education directly to the people who need it most.

Using donated laptops and hybrid instruction, Ten16 clients can now work toward credentials in digital literacy, financial literacy, and other essential skills—on their own time and with weekly support from TLC instructors.

“Many of our clients come to us ready to rebuild their lives,” said Sam Price, President and CEO of Ten16 Recovery Network. “They want to work, but they may need help developing confidence, technology skills, or coping tools to manage workplace stress. This partnership helps them do exactly that.”

Bridging Skill-Building and Employment

While both programs were showing strong results, one need became clear: clients were gaining skills but still needed guidance to translate them into sustainable employment.

The SPARK Grant will fund a new kind of position, job coaches who are also certified recovery coaches. These professionals will be cross-trained to understand both employment barriers and recovery challenges, providing hands-on support as participants search for, secure, and sustain employment.

Their role will be to help individuals build confidence, strengthen coping strategies for workplace stress, and navigate the transition back into the workforce. Employers, in turn, will gain a trusted partner who can help ensure success for new hires in recovery, reducing turnover and promoting long-term stability.

Progress So Far

• 25 Ten16 clients are currently enrolled in TLC programs
• 44 digital literacy certificates earned
• 12 clients enrolled in financial literacy modules
• Job coaching and employer recruitment launching in early 2025

From Recovery to Economic Stability

This collaboration addresses three key dimensions of what’s known as Recovery Capital, the personal, social, and community resources that help people sustain recovery.

• Personal: Building new skills, motivation, and financial literacy
• Social: Developing support through job coaching and mentorship
• Community: Creating stable, recovery-supportive employment opportunities

By the end of the two-year grant, Ten16 and TLC expect to see measurable progress: more clients completing educational modules and earning credentials, higher rates of employment retention, and lower return-to-use rates. As participants gain financial stability, the ripple effects will be felt throughout Midland County, resulting in stronger families, healthier workplaces, and fewer crises.

“When people in recovery succeed at work, everyone benefits,” said Kathryn Tate, CEO of the Legacy Center. “Families grow stronger, employers gain reliable team members, and the whole community becomes healthier.”

Igniting Community Change

The SPARK Grant program from the Midland County United Way is designed to ignite innovative, collaborative solutions to community challenges. The Ten16–Legacy Center partnership embodies that vision, connecting two proven organizations to meet an emerging need with creativity and compassion.

Together, they’re showing that recovery doesn’t end with treatment; it continues through purpose, education, and opportunity. With the right supports, individuals in recovery can move beyond surviving to truly thriving, and when they do, the entire community shines a little brighter.