This quarter, PA Women Work is proud to spotlight our partner, Teetotal Initiative, an organization dedicated to helping individuals in recovery build healthy, fulfilling, and connected lives through creative, wellness-based, and sober-social programming.
Our partnership with Teetotal Initiative is rooted in a personal story. In 2019, Jackie Slaugenhaupt, Teetotal’s co-founder, participated in our 3 Cups of Coffee mentorship program. Having recently returned to Pittsburgh and searching for career direction, Jackie found not only mentorship but empowerment.
That experience stayed with her, and when she co-founded Teetotal Initiative in 2023, the connection came full circle. In fall 2024, our organizations teamed up and were granted funding through the Appalachian Regional Commission’s INSPIRE grant, aligning Teetotal’s innovative recovery support model with PA Women Work’s workforce development expertise.
Together, we are supporting more individuals recovering from substance use disorder on their path to success. Our ReWork program partners with Teetotal, along with other local recovery focused organizations, to deliver trauma informed career development support to those looking to reenter the workforce during their recovery.
“Partnering with PA Women Work brings our programming to where it’s needed most—right at that turning point when recovery begins to meet real life. When people find joy in their lives again, they’re more likely to stay engaged in work, community, and themselves,” said Jackie.
In just two years, Teetotal Initiative has hosted more than 75 events and continues to grow, reaching Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland counties. Looking forward, they aim to deepen key partnerships and expand both virtual offerings and high-capacity events.
PA Women Work is proud to partner with Teetotal Initiative and deeply values the role they play in helping our clients build not only careers—but confident, connected lives in recovery.