Ascension Recovery Services Awarded $1.5 Million to Help West Virginians in Recovery Return to Work

Orlando, Florida, USA, October 20th, 2026, FinanceWire

West Virginia Rural Health Transformation grant will support a recovery-to-work initiative in nine counties, connecting individuals with employment opportunities and ongoing recovery support.

Ascension Recovery Services (Ascension RS), the leading national behavioral health consulting, development and management company, has been awarded $1.5 million through West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to help individuals affected by substance use disorder (SUD) return to the workforce and build lasting financial independence.

Announced by West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey on October 13, the award is part of the state’s Health to Prosperity initiative, which connects improved health outcomes with workforce participation and economic stability. The funding will support the Ascension RS Return-to-Work program across nine counties: Monongalia, Marion, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Raleigh, Wayne and Wyoming.

Connecting Recovery with Long-Term Employment

For individuals recovering from substance use disorder, completing treatment is one step toward rebuilding their lives. Finding employment, navigating workplace expectations and maintaining recovery can be challenging, particularly in rural communities where services and resources may be limited.

The Ascension RS initiative connects individuals with recovery resources, workforce opportunities and personalized support that continues beyond job placement.

“Recovery is about so much more than achieving sobriety. It’s about helping people rebuild their lives, restore relationships and regain a sense of purpose,” said Doug Leech, founder and chief executive officer, Ascension Recovery Services. “Meaningful employment can be a powerful part of that process. This investment allows us to help more West Virginians move from treatment and recovery into stable employment, while giving them the ongoing support they need to succeed.”

The program will coordinate with employers, healthcare providers, recovery organizations and community partners to help individuals overcome barriers to employment while supporting businesses seeking to build and retain a reliable workforce.

Key components of the initiative include:

• Recovery and Care Navigation: Connecting participants with appropriate substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health services, peer recovery support and community resources.
• Workforce Readiness and Job Placement: Helping individuals assess employment readiness, identify suitable opportunities and navigate the hiring process.
• Employer Partnerships: Working directly with businesses to support recruitment, workplace reintegration and appropriate accommodations for employees in recovery.
• Ongoing Recovery and Employment Support: Maintaining engagement after job placement to help individuals manage challenges, prevent unnecessary workforce disruption and sustain long-term employment.
• Measurable Outcomes: Tracking workforce participation, successful job placement and employment retention to evaluate program effectiveness and support future expansion.

Strengthening Rural Communities Through Recovery

The program will emphasize sustained employment, including 180-day job retention, rather than focusing solely on initial placement. This longer-term approach recognizes that recovery and workforce success require continuity, coordination and support.

“West Virginia has made significant investments in addressing substance use disorder, and this initiative represents an important opportunity to build on that progress,” Leech added. “When we connect recovery with employment, we create opportunities for individuals to become more independent, for families to become more stable and for communities to grow stronger.”

The $1.5 million award is part of the nearly $200 million West Virginia received through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program to expand healthcare access, improve health outcomes and strengthen workforce participation.

About Ascension Recovery Services

Ascension Recovery Services (Ascension RS) is a national leader in behavioral health program development and management, partnering investors, hospitals, health systems, government entities, non-profit treatment organizations and tribal lands to accelerate the creation and operation of high-impact substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health treatment programs. As the nation’s first Substance Use Disorder Management Services Organization (SUD-MSO), ARS integrates capital planning, facility design, licensure and accreditation, staffing, payer contracting, marketing, and long-term management into a single, scalable model. With more than a decade of experience and projects spanning 80 organizations across 35 states, Ascension RS supports every level of care—including Residential Treatment Centers, Intensive Outpatient Programs, Partial Hospitalization Programs, Sober Living Homes, and hospital-based treatment lines—delivering measurable clinical and financial results for its partners. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida Ascension RS combines financial expertise, clinical excellence, and compassionate leadership to expand access to sustainable recovery nationwide. For more information, visit www.ascensionrs.com.

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