A grant-funded initiative is seeking to connect local individuals in substance use disorder recovery with employers offering permanent jobs, organizers said.
“This represents an opportunity for a second chance for the folks who are participants,” Florence resident Asa Howell said. “I’m all for it, because none of us know what life has in store for us. Blessings to all who are starting anew.”
During the first quarter of this year, the Northern Kentucky Area Development District in Florence’s Workforce Division was awarded $289,457 from Statewide Reserve Funds to operate Work for Success, the organization’s website noted.
Substance use disorder is a treatable mental disorder that impacts a person’s brain and behavior, leading to an inability to control their use of legal or illegal substances such as drugs, alcohol or medication, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The program’s focus is permanent employment; includes outreach to employers to participate by sharing with benefits of hiring individuals through the program; and provides a wage subsidy to employers, Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board Business Services Coordinator Todd Kyper said.
Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board leads the Workforce Division, and Work for Success subsidizes 100% of the wages for the first four weeks of employment, officials said.
“That’s permanent employment from day one for individuals participating and the intention is to assess their current skill set; what types of jobs they’re interested in; and what would work best for their availability schedules,” Kyper said.
The grant specifies it aids residents in Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Owen and Pendleton counties. Work for Success seeks to help 75 individuals, Kyper said.
Partners in the Work for Success endeavor include Journey Recovery Center, the Kentucky Career Center and the Career Development Office within the Kentucky Career Center serves as a solid program referral partner, Kyper said.
