Valley Leadership received a $350,000 grant for its Opioid Stigma Reduction Impact Team to expand a platform to help companies and their employees work through stigma-free addiction and recovery.

The grant, from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, would expand the Opioid Business Toolkit in a multiyear initiative focused on enhancing the toolkit’s functionality, providing onboarding and support to small- and midsize businesses, and advancing workplace policies to address substance use disorder.

“This funding allows us to bring the toolkit to more employers across the county, especially those who want to take action but don’t know where to start,” said Paige Soucie, director of marketing at Valley Leadership and the Opioid Impact Team Lead for the last four years, in a press release.

The platform is designed to be self-paced and adaptable to businesses of all sizes, with particular emphasis on small businesses that may not have dedicated HR or wellness infrastructure.

The grant is funded through opioid settlement funds, said Carmen Batista, division administrator for Maricopa County Department of Public Health, in a press release.

“Workplace policies that reduce stigma, support employees, and connect individuals to care contribute to healthier, more resilient communities,” Batista said.

Valley Leadership’s Impact Team will partner with business associations, chambers of commerce, and regional employers to onboard an initial group of 30 businesses across Maricopa County.

To learn more or get started with the toolkit, visit www.oudbiztoolkit.org.