The University of Iowa has earned certification as a Recovery Friendly Workplace, reflecting its commitment to supporting employees affected by substance use disorders, mental health challenges, and recovery. The designation from the National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute recognizes employers that support a workplace culture where employees feel supported in seeking treatment, maintaining sobriety, and thriving professionally.
Iowa is the first university in the United States to earn the certification and the first organization headquartered in the state of Iowa to receive the designation.
"This designation recognizes the strong foundation we have in place and reinforces our commitment to fostering a workplace that supports employee success through compassion and respect," says Cheryl Reardon, chief human resources officer and associate vice president. "Iowa is committed to creating an environment where employees feel safe seeking help and accessing available resources."
The certification builds on years of work led by UI's Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest (HWC), which has developed and evaluated evidence-based programs focused on behavioral health, suicide prevention, substance use prevention, and recovery support. The Brain Sciences and Mental Health SPARC initiative, with input from the Holistic Well-Being SPARC, encouraged UI to pursue certification.
A key step in achieving certification was the launch of the Recovery Friendly Hawkeye Initiative, an effort led by the HWC to engage campus partners, assess existing workplace practices, and align university policies with national Recovery Friendly Workplace standards. The initiative will continue to bring together stakeholders across the institution to identify opportunities to strengthen recovery-oriented practices for employees and to promote future research.
"The national certification is a recognition of the work that the University of Iowa has already done to support employee recovery," says Diane Rohlman, director of the HWC and professor of occupational and environmental health. "The Recovery Friendly Hawkeye Initiative will build on this success to ensure that UI remains a leader in this area across the state and country."
Iowa's efforts were informed by more than a decade of HWC research and outreach. During that time, researchers partnered with employers, labor organizations, and industry groups throughout the Midwest to address suicide prevention, mental health, and substance use in the workplace. Initiatives included developing workplace awareness campaigns, implementing evidence-based prevention programs, and helping organizations reduce stigma while connecting workers to treatment and recovery resources. These efforts benefit employers by improving workforce well-being, reducing absenteeism and turnover, enhancing productivity, and fostering safer, healthier workplaces.
The certification may provide several important benefits for employees, including increased awareness of available resources, stronger connections to treatment and recovery support, and workplace practices designed to promote belonging and respect. It also helps create a culture where conversations about mental health, substance use, and recovery can occur openly and without judgement.
By reducing stigma and encouraging access to support services, UI aims to improve employee well-being, strengthen retention, and foster a more engaged workforce.