DeForest, WI – The Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council announced the launch of its Laborers Escaping Adversity Now (LEAN) peer support program today. This innovative program was created to help LIUNA members and their families overcome mental health issues, substance use disorders, and other types of adversity.
The Wisconsin LEAN program was created through an extensive 18-month process involving labor and management trustees who make up the Wisconsin Laborers’ Health Fund to employ card-carrying LIUNA Wisconsin members as state-certified peer specialists who are available 24/7 to support members and their families facing adversity.
The Wisconsin LEAN program is the third program within the LIUNA network, following the Massachusetts Laborers’ Benefit Funds and the St. Louis Laborers’ Benefit Fund, to provide this level of programming to provide a safe and supportive path toward healing and recovery for LIUNA members. The program is funded by a $ 0.05-per-hour contribution from LIUNA Wisconsin members.
“Every year, approximately 5,000 construction workers die by suicide and thousands more die from overdoses,” said Kent Miller, President/Business Manager of the Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council, and chairman of the Wisconsin Laborers’ Health Fund. “We need to break down the stigma in the construction industry that it is ok to seek out help for yourself if you are having challenges with mental health or substance abuse.”
“As a union, we strive to prevent physical injuries through our safety and skills training programs, and mental health and well-being are equally important. We all collectively must work together to make sure that our members and their families have the resources they need at any given moment.”
The Wisconsin Laborers’ Health Fund recently hired three full-time peer support specialists – Jon Bothun, Matt Raasch, and Mikey Richards – LIUNA Wisconsin members who have all overcome adversity in their recovery journeys, and as LIUNA members who have worked years in construction, will be able to provide a level of familiarity to help fellow LIUNA members who are in need.
The Wisconsin LEAN peer support specialists have completed an extensive training program to be ready to provide services at program launch. The LEAN peer support specialists are currently working to obtain their state certifications and have already completed training for HIPAA, QPR suicide prevention, mental health first aid, NARCAN, and CCAR recovery coaching.
“I would like to thank the labor/management trustees and the administrator of the Wisconsin Laborers’ Health Fund for their work to make the Wisconsin LEAN program a reality to provide the support that our members need,” concluded Miller.
To learn more about the Wisconsin LEAN program, which includes resources for mental health and substance abuse and biographies of peer support specialists, please visit liunawisconsin.org/lean.
The Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council is an affiliation of five Laborer local unions, representing over 10,000 skilled construction craft laborers throughout Wisconsin. The Laborers are the most diverse trade in the construction industry, servicing employers in transportation infrastructure, building, sewer and water, utility distribution, demolition, asbestos removal, and related sectors.
