Louisville, Ky. – Goodwill Industries of Kentucky and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield have announced a partnership to launch Pikeville’s Reintegrating Individuals Successfully Every Day (RISE) program, a job-readiness training program aimed at connecting low-income Kentuckians with resources to find and sustain employment. RISE-Pikeville will benefit at least 40 low-income Kentuckians in 2020. This expansion is a result of Anthem’s $25,000 financial investment to the program.
RISE-Pikeville participants will receive support to better understand consumer literacy, health and nutritional literacy, digital and financial literacy as well as learn skills in effective communicating, mock interviewing, resume-writing, job searching and more. Program graduates are awarded a Work Ready Certificate, which helps participants reintegrate back into employment. It also allows participants a chance to earn a Chromebook, a gym membership and a stipend upon graduating.
“Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky remains committed to providing innovative tools and resources to our local community during these uncertain times,” said Leon Lamoreaux, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Medicaid President in Kentucky. “Through this partnership, we will help these individuals sustain meaningful employment with benefits through skills development, communication, behavioral health, personal health and wellness, and family strengthening. We continue to support programs that go beyond traditional healthcare support and connect with members when they want and how they want it, putting them at the center.”
Each RISE-Pikeville participant must be Medicaid eligible, transitioning from the justice system and/or have a history of substance abuse. They also must gain Goodwill Soft Skills Academy training prior to being selected by a Goodwill staff member for the cohort. Soft Skills Academy training consists of six modules critical to sustaining full-time employment: dependability, attitude, self-preservation, conflict resolution, team building and safety.
“Goodwill seeks to eradicate poverty across the Commonwealth and RISE-Pikeville gives us the opportunity to place Kentuckians on career paths while addressing their barriers at the same time. We feel this mission aligns well with Anthem’s goal to help low-income Kentuckians overcome common challenges they face,” said Dennis Ritchie, director of reentry services for Goodwill.
The partnership allows Goodwill to expand its program reach in Kentucky, while putting an emphasis on transitioning individuals from Medicaid into private, employer-based plans. For more information about RISE-Pikeville, email dennis.ritchie@08r.7e6.myftpupload.com.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Kentucky Medicaid
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves approximately 140,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in Kentucky. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield began serving Medicaid beneficiaries in Kentucky in 2014. To learn more, visit https://mss.anthem.com/ky.
About Goodwill Industries of Kentucky
In the 2019 fiscal year, Goodwill partnered with 945 community employers to place Kentuckians into 2,910 jobs across the state – both inside and outside of Goodwill. Goodwill’s career path programs and employment services, which serve Kentuckians who have disabilities or other challenges, are funded through a combination of grants, corporate and individual giving, and its retail stores, which sell donated clothing and household items at 66 locations across Kentucky.