About the RFW Institute
A national home for Recovery Friendly Workplaces
The National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute is a national leader in advancing Recovery Friendly Workplace engagement, bridging policy and practice to help every employer support people in recovery from, or otherwise affected by, substance use disorder.
Our Mission
To engage employers in creating certified Recovery Friendly Workplaces.
Our Vision
A future in which employers are equipped with the knowledge, tools, resources, procedures, policies, and benefits to ensure that employees with substance use disorder and mental health conditions have access to treatment and recovery services at parity with all other chronic health conditions.
Who we are
The only body that nationally certifies Recovery Friendly Workplaces
The Institute is an initiative of Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation (GRI), the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit that houses and operates it. GRI ran one of the first and largest recovery high schools, launched Young People in Recovery, and organized two national Recovery Research Summits that informed the White House National Drug Control Strategy.
We are a leading organization supporting employers in fostering recovery-friendly workplace cultures, working with employers, government agencies, and community leaders to advance the Recovery Friendly Workplace movement. By equipping employers with tools to support individuals in recovery, we help businesses improve retention, productivity, and overall workplace culture.
The only nationwide RFW seal
Our story
From a single state initiative to a national movement
The Institute was established in response to the need for a national home for Recovery Friendly Workplace efforts, and to the federal government's release of the Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit. Over the past several years, we have worked to operationalize and scale that Toolkit, helping employers translate guidance into real-world workplace practices.
- 1
2018 · New Hampshire
The first state initiative
The first local Recovery Friendly Workplace initiative began under Governor Chris T. Sununu in New Hampshire, growing to more than 350 participating businesses.
- 2
2022 · The White House
A national goal is set
The White House National Drug Control Strategy identified supporting recovery as a key component of a long-term response to substance use disorder, with an express goal to create a recovery friendly nation.
- 3
November 2023
The Institute is formed
The formation of the National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute was announced in a formal White House announcement, established to expand and formalize these efforts with sustainable, research-backed strategies available nationally.
- 4
2026 · The White House
Named a metric of success
The 2026 National Drug Control Strategy recognized the Institute and established Recovery Friendly Workplace certification as a metric of success, reinforcing that recovery friendly work is central to the national response.
National impact
Recognized nationally, supported across the aisle
A national priority
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy has recognized the Institute and established certification as a metric of success in the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy, reinforcing that Recovery Friendly Workplaces are central to addressing substance use disorder in the United States.
Bipartisan by design
Recovery Friendly Workplaces are a practical, results-driven solution supported across political and sector lines, uniting leaders around workforce strength, economic impact, and public health.
Our reach
Working nationally, grounded in every community
The Institute is the center of information on Recovery Friendly Workplaces, proven to benefit both individuals and businesses.
Where we work
The Institute operates nationally, partnering with businesses and organizations across the United States. We collaborate with state-led Recovery Friendly Workplace initiatives, industry leaders, and communities to implement recovery-friendly practices in workplaces of all sizes and sectors.
Why it matters
Substance use disorder affects millions of workers, impacting businesses and communities alike. By promoting Recovery Friendly Workplaces, the Institute helps reduce stigma, increase employee support, and create healthier, more productive work environments, leading to improved well-being, reduced turnover, and a stronger workforce.
Be part of a national movement strengthening workplaces
Become a Certified Recovery Friendly Workplace, help launch an initiative in your state, or support the work that makes it possible.
