U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie on Tuesday made multiples stops in Owensboro talking to local officials about a variety of topics including RiverValley Behavioral Health’s role with the new suicide prevention hotline and the Daviess County Detention Center’s transitional program.
In summarizing his visit, Guthrie said there is a central lesson to take away.
“There are a lot of issues, and we need to get people in the workforce,” he said. “That can kind of sum up everything this way: Everybody needs a place to live; everybody wants to be important; everybody wants to find their niche where they can be successful.”
Guthrie started his day in Owensboro by touring the new Apollo High School facility, discussing ways to get students involved in the workforce. School officials said with so many students deciding not to go to college, educators are trying to focus on how to prepare students regardless of the path they take after high school.
His day started touring the new Apollo High School facility as they discussed ways to get students involved in the workforce. To combat the number of students that are finding they don’t want to go to college, the schools are trying to focus on the ways students learn and then push them that way.
Guthrie then made a stop at DCDC, where they discussed a new program that prepares inmates for re-entering the workforce by providing skills training prior to their release. The Re-Entry Success Program launched in early July, and DCDC reported seeing successes across the board so far.
The final stop for Guthrie was at RVBH, with officials discussing the implementation of the 988 Crisis Line. When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained call takers who are part of the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. The workers will be available 24/7/365 to listen, understand, provide support, and connect clients to resources, if necessary. RiverValley Behavioral Health serves as the regional 988 Lifeline center, one of 170 nationwide.
Guthrie said it’s always good when the government can get behind initiatives such as those that were discussed Tuesday because people sometimes just need a little extra support.
“Government can’t always do that [fix all these issues], but sometimes there are things that we can do,” Guthrie said. “… And that’s getting people into the workforce and giving some people some extra help.”
