Kentuckians who complete the state’s substance abuse and chronic addiction recovery program now have a new aid in seeking employment. The governor and first lady introduced the initiative Monday at Lexington’s Hope Center.
‘Reworking Kentucky’ unveiled by Steve and Jane Beshear could help move individuals with felony records into employment. The aim is to link individuals who complete one of the 14 ‘Recovery Kentucky’ residential programs to a local career center. Melissa Johnson was a nurse for 20 years before facing addiction and about a year in jail. She’s emerged from the recovery Kentucky program and is again employed. “Work was a driving force for me prior," Johnson said. "So getting back to work was like, at the core of my being. I knew I had to do it."
The new program, expected to rely primarily on existing resources, allows participants to obtain an entry-level workplace-ready assessment from a career center. Then, the focus is on securing a job with a participating partner company.
One of the 14 existing Recovery Kentucky programs is found at Lexington's Hope Center. Director Cecil Dunn says expunging non violent felony charges would benefit many within the homeless community. “The business community is now behind it," Dunn said. "If we get that through the legislature, that will really help. That will really help, because these are people like you and I. They just made a mistake."
Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dave Adkisson says his organization is backing felony expungement legislation. He says that would help increase the pool of workers to help employers fill needed positions.?
