eKART Helps Eastern Kentuckians in Recovery Re-Enter the workforce
Four hundred and seventy-nine (479) Eastern Kentuckians in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) re-entered the workforce during the last three years with the help of an EKCEP initiative called eKART (Eastern Kentucky Addiction Recovery and Training). eKART was implemented to bridge the gulf between recovery and productive participation in the workforce for individuals in recovery by providing valuable career, training, and supportive services, and by cultivating second-chance job opportunities with Eastern Kentucky employers.
The individuals served, trained, or placed in employment under eKART had completed, or were in the latter stages of, a reputable treatment program which provides aftercare that includes ongoing counseling, accountability, and support. Depending upon their qualifications, work history, and career interests, each recovering individual received a variety of eKART services, including:
Career coaching and job-search assistance.
Transitional employment.
Work-based trainings.
Classroom trainings.
Workplace success coaching post-hire.
Supportive services.
The individuals successfully trained and placed through eKART included 193 individuals who were trained and certified as Peer Support Specialists. A Peer Support Specialist works with medical recovery organizations to assist people dealing with SUD succeed in their recovery. In Kentucky, the Peer Support Specialist is a Medicaid-billable position.
The bulk of funding for eKART came from a $1,461,078.20 POWER grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Matching funds were provided by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Kentucky Justice Cabinet — Office of Drug Control Policy, and EKCEP’s regular funding from the U.S. Department of Labor under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). eKART ran from February 1, 2019 through January 31, 2022, and exceeded all of its performance targets for the grant period.
In addition to the 479 individuals hired and 193 who were trained as Peer Support Specialists, eKART’s results included:
154 recovering individuals were placed in work-based training, including on-the-job training with employers. (This was 167% of the grant performance target of 92.)
249 recovering individuals were placed in classroom-style training. (This was 498% of the grant performance target of 50.)
30 recovering individuals were helped to regain state-issued licenses (e.g., RN, LPN, phlebotomy, welding, CDL) which they previously lost due to their SUD issues.
Additionally, 94 Eastern Kentucky employers either directly hired eKART participants or initiated an on-the-job training (OJT) or Work Experience placement for eKART participants.
Many eKART services will continue in the region under the statewide SITE (Strategic Initiative for Transformational Employment) program, also administered and delivered by EKCEP. SITE is funded by by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Kentucky Justice Cabinet — Office of Drug Control Policy.
Click on the link below to read the full final report on eKART.
Read the final report of the Eastern Kentucky Addiction Recovery and Training (eKART) program here.
