McConnell and Barr announce Isaiah House to receive nearly $2.5 million as part of the CAREER Act

Published 5:30 pm Friday, August 27, 2021

Join Mark LePalme, founder and CEO of Isaiah House, in Versailles to announce funding

U.S. CONGRESS

News release

VERSAILLES, KY – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) on Wednesday announced the Isaiah House Treatment Center will receive $2,483,600 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Recovery Workforce Support Program, which was established as part of Senator McConnell’s CAREER Act.

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Senator McConnell authored the CAREER Act to provide funding for treatment centers that assist individuals in recovery to reenter the workforce. In 2018, the CAREER Act was enacted into law as part of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, a comprehensive and bipartisan bill that bolstered federal substance abuse prevention and treatment resources. Senator McConnell and Congressman Barr made the announcement during a press conference at Isaiah House in Versailles.

Isaiah House will partner with the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board, the Bluegrass Workforce Innovation Board, Goodwill Industries of Kentucky and other organizations to address workforce participation challenges caused by the prevalence of substance abuse in Kentucky. The program plans to serve over 6,000 Kentuckians in the next five years.

“Tragically, Kentucky has been ground zero for America’s catastrophic substance abuse epidemic,” McConnell said. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, this problem grew only more severe. I have been proud to work with lifesaving organizations like the Isaiah House to help Kentuckians break free of the terrible grip of addiction and reenter society successfully. Last year, I had the privilege of visiting the Isaiah House to meet with their inspiring staff and help support their compassionate mission. I am incredibly thankful for their work and appreciate the opportunity to meet with them again today. Mark LaPalme and his team have been instrumental leaders in our efforts to prevent and treat substance abuse. In Congress, Congressman Barr and I will continue to advocate for CAREER Act funding to fight substance abuse and support the heroic efforts of groups like the Isaiah House.”

Barr said, “Isaiah House continues to provide a roadmap and hope for Kentuckians struggling to overcome addiction. With overdose deaths rising in Kentucky by over 50% last year, we must move aggressively to provide resources to our frontline treatment and recovery providers. That is why Senator McConnell and I supported this grant request and championed the legislation that made this funding available. I will continue to support Isaiah House in its mission to reduce substance abuse in our community moving forward.”

“Isaiah House is grateful for Senator McConnell and Congressman Barr’s leadership in providing this exciting opportunity for Isaiah House,” said Mark LaPalme, CEO and founder of Isaiah House. “This new funding will significantly improve our ability to impact the lives of thousands of Kentucky residents who have struggled to get the support and training they need to succeed in life and the workplace.”