Employment Solutions Division Updates

Adult Day Program Opens in Morehead

Morehead is the home of our newest adult day training program.   As part of Kentucky’s Medicaid Waiver program, ADTs provide people with intellectual and other disabilities opportunities to learn new skill in a supportive environment.  

Additional Medicaid Waiver services provided by Employment Solutions include residential, therapeutic and other community supports.

Judge Goodwine Makes Commencement Address

On August 17, 2023 Appellate Judge Pamela Goodwine gave an inspirational address to the summer graduation class of the College of Technical Education.   Judge Goodwine told of the many barriers she overcame before attaining her current position including family tragedy and serious health issues.   

The College for technical Education operates a variety of post-secondary educational programs including cosmetology, esthetics, nail tech, medical assistant and business office professional 

Fresh Approach Relocates

In August 2023 Fresh Approach moved to its new location at 1084 Whipple Court.  Fresh Approach prepares fruits and vegetables for commercial restaurants.

Fresh Approach also provides skills training and the opportunity to earn wages for people with intellectual disabilities.   

FY 23-24 Budget    

Employment Solutions’ budget exceeds $25 million for the current fiscal year—an all-time high.  Among the operations of Employment Solutions are a career college, transportation, day training, residential and a behavioral health clinic.  

From the CEO

Employment Solutions has successfully emerged from the two-year Covid pandemic.   Thanks to the quick and decisive actions of the US Congress, enormous amounts of financial assistance from the federal government helped to stave off a recession

From my perspective the greatest lesson is that strategic planning is far less useful than the ability of pivot and adapt to circumstances that are unforeseeable.  

Employment Solutions Division Updates

Home Adaptations

In August, with the help of Transitions Lift and Elevator Life Works installed an electric chair lift in one of our FHP homes in Georgetown. Dwehde Salyer, FHP shed tears of joy as she watched Alice, 76 try out the new lift! Alice has a newfound level of independence in her home now thanks to the stair lift. Alice is able to operate the lift herself to go upstairs to her room or come downstairs to joint her family whenever she wants without assistance. Alice loves to show off her lift to everyone who visits her home!

Expressive Programs Gets New Space

On January 10, 2023 the Expressive Programs Division opened its expanded space at 1165 Centre Parkway.  Expressive Programs, provides for people with disabilities, a wide range of opportunities to explore the community, make friends and learn new levels of independence. We offer a variety of diverse, enriching programs and daily educational activities, with a full schedule monthly, for a wide range of interests. Expressive Programs brings community instructors, therapists and nutritionist into our program, as well as traveling out into the community for meaningful quality social experiences every day!

Having moved out of its former space at Whipple Court, the new space of 8,000 square feet features an abundance of exterior lighting, a huge activities room with a stage, ample teaching kitchen and an extensive patio.    Together with the space Expressive Programs already occupied at Centre Parkway the combined actives space totals over 10,000 square feet.

Fresh Approach to QBox Merge Locations

With the recent sale of the 1067 Whipple Court (Fresh Approach) building, the staff, participants and the various jobs they accomplish are moving next door to 1084 Whipple Court. Our participants are people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.    The types of work that our participants engage in performs for local business include the preparation of fresh fruit and vegetables.   Accordingly, this move involves the expansion of the existing training kitchen to a commercial kitchen with space to refrigerate and prepare food for sale.   This kitchen will also prepare breakfasts and lunches for our participants.  

Cosmetology Program Opens in Nicholasville

The latest operation of the College for Technical Education opened in June 2022 on 973 South Main Street in Nicholasville, Kentucky.   Programs in this new location include: Cosmetology, Nail Tech and Esthetics.    

FHP Students Demonstrate Food Preparation Techniques

Every other Tuesday Food and Hospitality students engage with Kroger customers at various locations throughout Lexington, doing cooking demonstrations.

This partnership has been a wonderful addition to the hands-on curriculum and allows the “real time” experience with customers that is so necessary.

The students are rotated in different capacities, as to allow everyone the opportunity to prep, cook and engage with the public professionally.

Fresh Approach Upgrades Lead To Expanded Capacity

During FY 2015-2016, Fresh Approach invested in several key improvements to its facility, including the expansion of client work.

We also made significant upgrades to the floors, walls and lighting of the refrigerated production room that contains a variety of power processing and packaging equipment.

Utilizing the federal special minimum wage, Fresh Approach employs people with significant intellectual and other developmental disabilities to clean, peel, dice and package fresh vegetable and fruit products, which are then sold to restaurants and food distributors.

During FY 2015-2016 Fresh Approach paid over $68,000 in wages to people with severe disabilities, and these wages served to supplement their Supplemental Security Income (SSI), while also saving tax dollars.

The expanded capabilities will enable Fresh Approach to hire more people with disabilities and pay them more wages.