Kentucky officials have launched a new website that compiles resources to help people get a new lease on life after hard times.
Officials said the website aims to help Kentuckians who were recently released from incarceration and those who are in addiction recovery. It features information on free education, workplace re-entry programs, and mental health and recovery.
Governor Andy Beshear said the goal of the website is to make it easier to recover after incarceration or addiction.
“This is an attempt to bring all of those things in one place for folks who are looking to rebuild their lives and don’t know what all the possibilities are out there and how they can all work together. It’s an attempt to take any bureaucracy from government or our partners and remove it to make it as easy as possible for people to see that there is help and that we want to get you on the right track,” said Beshear.
Governor Beshear said Kentucky has made great strides with second chance programs.
“The state has recorded the three lowest annual recidivism rates in over a decade. That means that we are safer, that means that people are getting their lives back together, getting back with their families, that is success both on a societal level and on a deeply personal level for those who are securing these jobs and moving forward,” Beshear said.
Some of the resources available include Fair Chance Academy, the Kentucky Transformational Employment program, the Prison-to-Work Pipeline, and Jobs on Day One program. There are also educational resources such as free GED classes and testing, job training, and apprenticeships, as well as college degree programs. Drug and mental health treatment and recovery resources like treatment openings, recovery housing, and transportation are all included.
More information about Kentucky’s second chance programs can be found at secondchance.ky.gov.