Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday that Breathitt, Jessamine, Lee and Nelson counties have been certified as Recovery Ready Communities, providing addiction services to more than 122,000 Kentuckians. This recognition supports counties’ efforts in offering peer support, mental health treatment, addiction services and employment assistance.
"Lee County is very excited to receive the Recovery Ready Community certification in recognition of all the hard work that is being done to support individuals and families impacted by substance use disorder," said Scott Lockard, Public Health Director of the Kentucky River District Health Department. "Substance use disorder is one of the biggest public health challenges we face in Eastern Kentucky, and we must work together across sectors and organizations putting people first if we are to be successful in addressing it."
Recovery Ready certification encourages communities to provide transportation to and from employment services and job interviews, allowing Kentuckians to make positive changes in their lives while filling much-needed jobs and contributing to the commonwealth’s record-breaking economic growth.
The four new certifications bring the total number of Recovery Ready Communities to 14 counties.
"Last year we certified seven counties as Recovery Ready, and they saw hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians take advantage of their recovery resources," said Pam Darnall, chair of the Recovery Ready Communities Advisory Council. "We encourage each of Kentucky’s counties to become certified Recovery Ready Communities so more lives are saved, and overdose deaths continue to decline."
To learn more about the program and to apply for certification as a Recovery Ready Community, click here.
