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New Veterans Program at Northpoint Training Center Works with Office of Employment Services to Successfully Reintegrate Inmates into Society
By Kentucky Department of Corrections - Northpoint Training Center
Published: 09/04/2015

Burgin, Ky. (September 3, 2015) –Northpoint Training Center is the first in the state of Kentucky to implement a pilot project with the Jobs for Veterans State Grant Program that works with the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training (OET) to reduce the recidivism rate of inmates. While states are not federally mandated to do this program, Kentucky took advantage of available funding a year ago to implement the program. Northpoint Training Center, a medium security facility in the Kentucky Department of Corrections, was selected as a pilot location because of the Veterans Dorm offered at the facility to all veterans without a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge.

In January, Jeffrey Cunningham, the program coordinator and Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) specialist with the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training (OET), began working with the institution to help veterans who were within 12 months of release and interested in the program.

Since that time, Cunningham has offered intensive one-on-one services for veterans who are often economically and/or educationally disadvantaged with significant barriers to employment.

“This has been one of the first programs instituted that has really worked as a seamless transition for the inmate veteran from incarceration to society,” said Warden Don Bottom “In the past few months, the first inmate veterans that Mr. Cunningham has been working with have been released. We are excited to track the progress and see the success and changes this partnership is having for veterans.”

Traditionally, DVOPs begin working with veteran ex-offenders after the veteran has been released and is struggling to secure adequate housing, transportation, clothing, job skills and education. The Jobs for Veterans State Grant Program takes a different approach by working with veterans while they are incarcerated. The goal is to develop a support system while simultaneously addressing significant barriers to employment prior to release.

The unique aspect of this program is that when inmate veterans are walking out the door of the facility they have already completed assessments to determine what marketable skills they have for employment, and often times, they have job opportunities in hand to seek interviews.

Cunningham continues to work with the ex-inmates as often as needed until the veteran is deemed stable and has gained successful employment.

Cunningham said, “I can see a difference in attitudes of those released through their willingness to work and drive to succeed after their incarceration.”

Warden Bottom said, "It is phenomenal to hear the success stories of those veterans who are being released and working with Mr. Cunningham. This partnership is making a monumental difference in the lives of inmate veterans as they reintegrate back into society."

For more information about the Jobs for Veterans State Grant Program, contact David Kuhn: David.Kuhn@ky.gov


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