Workforce Recovery Program

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Kentucky’s business community has become acutely aware in recent years that the state’s addiction epidemic is more than a public health issue, it is also a serious workforce issue. Employers are feeling the impact firsthand as they struggle to recruit and retain employees. The Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center and Kentucky Comeback initiative are working together within the Workforce Recovery Program.

Fair Chance Academy

This statewide training program is designed for employers ready to commit to fair chance hiring.

What it includes:

• Education on the justice system and substance use disorder 
• Reentry simulation experience
• Legal guidance and real-world policy examples
• Best practices for recruiting, training, hiring, and retaining justice-impacted talent
• Firsthand insights from individuals with lived experience
• Customized fair chance hiring action plans

Impact:

• Empowers employers to support economic opportunity and upward mobility with: 
• Has trained more than 150 Kentucky employers since launch
• Has contributed to hundreds of job placements for justice-impacted individuals

Learn more here!

Partners Learning, Appreciation, and Networking Events

These regional convenings are designed to bridge the gap between employers and local service providers.

What it includes:

• Connection between key resource and service providers in each region
• Education on available services to employers (e.g., treatment, housing, transportation, training)
• Networking between providers, chambers, and businesses
• Recognition of regional employer engagement

Impact:

• Lays the groundwork for successful Fair Chance Academies
• Connects employers with the support systems needed to hire and retain justice-impacted talent
• Builds trust among community and workforce partners
• Increases awareness of fair chance hiring practices
• Sparks collaboration between local stakeholders across the state

Fair Chance Academy Regional Workshops 

These one-day, accessible introductions to fair chance hiring are hosted in communities across Kentucky.

What it includes:

• Foundational training on fair chance employment practices
• Employer panels and local resource sharing
• Practical tools for starting or scaling fair chance initiatives
• Networking and follow-up engagement opportunities

Impact:

• Engages hundreds of employers statewide, boosting awareness and connection to reentry networks

RYAN BOWMAN

Workforce Development Manager, Workforce Recovery | Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center

(502)848-8749
rbowman@kychamber.com

BRANDI HON

Program Manager, Workforce Recovery | Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center

(502)848-8765
bhon@kychamber.com