EARN Newsletter: March 2026

Plus: a blog from the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), a suicide prevention webinar recording, and a return-to-work success story.

EARN in Action

Building a Mentally Healthy Workplace Starts with Understanding the Issue

Understanding mental health is an important first step in building a mentally healthy workplace. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 5 adults in the United States will experience a mental health condition in a given year, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that 1 in 3 adults with a mental health condition also has a co-occurring substance use disorder. EARN’s Workplace Mental Health Toolkit helps employers better understand these issues by offering information and guidance. It explains different types of mental health conditions and substance use disorder, how workers with them may be covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the benefits of investing in workplace mental health. The toolkit also offers resources, tools, and strategies to help employers support the well-being of all workers and build a healthier, more productive workforce.

Supporting School-to-Work Transition for Youth with Disabilities

EARN and the Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth (CAPE-Youth) recently presented during an Easterseals meeting focused on youth transition and workforce development. EARN’s presentation focused on the important role service providers can play in helping employers foster workplaces that support success for youth with disabilities new to the workforce. Through a nationwide network, Easterseals provides a range of services, including employment services, to people with disabilities of all ages and their families.

In Case You Missed It

From Awareness to Action: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace

Suicide impacts workplaces of all sizes and in all industries. Employers play a critical role in recognizing warning signs and connecting workers to support. On February 18, EARN welcomed the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for a webinar exploring practical prevention strategies employers can implement. Topics addressed included warning signs, effective intervention and communication techniques, and ways to foster a work environment that reduces risk factors and promotes help-seeking behaviors.

The Latest

Accommodations for Workers with Mental Health Conditions

Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling and Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Julie Hocker recently partnered to raise awareness about workplace accommodations for people with mental health conditions. In a new video, the Department of Labor leaders also highlighted a key resource for helping to identify effective accommodation solutions—the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). Watch the video to learn how JAN helps employers identify and implement accommodations for American workers with mental health conditions.

HIRE Vets Medallion Program

The deadline to apply for the 2026 HIRE Vets Medallion Award is April 30, 2026. This annual award program recognizes employers with exemplary track records in recruiting, hiring, retaining, and advancing veterans, including wounded warriors. It is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), as required by the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2017 signed by President Trump. Awardees will be notified by October 11, 2026.

New Leadership at VETS

In a recent blog post, Assistant Secretary of Labor Jeremiah Workman of the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) shared his personal story—starting with enlisting in the Marines at age 17—and his priorities for VETS going forward, which include continuing to “strengthen programs that work, expand employer engagement, and modernize pathways that connect transitioning service members and military veterans to high-quality employment,” he said.

Ask EARN

Spotlight

Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work in Action in Ohio

A new video shares the experiences of Ohioan Chuck Campbell, who, with support from the Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN) initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, returned to his job as a plant administrator for the City of Toledo after sustaining significant injuries in a motorcycle accident. The video is part of a newly released series of videos featuring RETAIN participants.

EARN is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy under Cooperative Agreement No. 23475OD000002-01-00 with Cornell University's Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability, in the amount of $11,000,000 (five-year total amount).

The content in this newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.