SENT, Inc., the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and the Kansas Department of Corrections Launch Community Health Worker Workforce Development Program

TOPEKA, Kansas. – SENT, Inc., in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) – specifically, Topeka Correctional Facility (TCF), and Kansas Correctional Industries (KCI), and Health Legacy and Restorative Pathways, is proud to announce the launch of a new Community Health Worker (CHW) Workforce Development Program.   This innovative initiative is designed to strengthen community health while creating meaningful employment pathways for individuals preparing to reenter society.

Through this partnership, individuals currently residing at TCF who have completed KDHE’s CHW certification program are now certified as paid SENT employees while completing onsite, hands-on job training in the CHW role. The program operates as a 7-month work-release internship, providing participants with real-world experience, professional accountability, and workforce readiness during the final phase of incarceration.

“Our top priority at the Kansas Department of Corrections is ensuring that individuals return to their communities with the tools necessary for long-term success,” said Secretary of the Kansas Department of Corrections Jeff Zmuda, “This partnership with SENT, Inc. and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is a model for effective reentry. By providing residents at the Topeka Correctional Facility with professional certification and real-world experience as Community Health Workers, we are not only strengthening the local healthcare workforce but also creating a proven pathway toward meaningful employment and a stable future.”

Health Legacy and Restorative Pathways has played a critical role in the success of the program by teaching the CHW coursework at TCF and coordinating required service-learning activities. These efforts ensure participants are able to fulfill KDHE certification requirements while gaining practical, community-based experience rooted in restorative and trauma-informed practices.

Participants work alongside SENT’s Community Wellness and Neighbor Advocacy teams, supporting neighbors through health resource navigation, benefits assistance, proactive case management, and connection to critical social and healthcare services. Their work directly strengthens access to care, reduces barriers to essential resources, and supports health equity across Shawnee County.

“By providing certification, on-site training, and connections to housing and healthcare, the program helps participants build careers and furthers equitable access to trusted, community-based care,” said Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Janet Stanek. “We’re proud to support a model that strengthens neighborhoods and creates opportunities for Kansas communities.”

Beyond job training, participants are connected to services and resources that include housing navigation, case management, employment readiness resources, and access to healthcare and counseling—all critical components for reducing recidivism and supporting long-term stability after release.

The program was launched with two CHWs, with plans to scale as funding and capacity allow. SENT and its partners view this initiative as a replicable model for combining public health workforce development with successful reentry strategies—strengthening both individual outcomes and community well-being.

“This program represents what is possible when workforce development, public health, and reentry efforts align,” said Jill Rice, Operations Director of SENT, Inc. “These Community Health Workers have earned their certification, are doing meaningful work, and are gaining the experience and stability needed to successfully transition into long-term employment. At the same time, our neighbors benefit from increased access to trusted, community-based health support.”

About SENT, Inc.

SENT, Inc. is grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Topeka, Kansas, dedicated to the holistic transformation of neighborhoods in Shawnee County. SENT intentionally walks beside neighbors through loving relationships and strategic development, with a focus on Community Wellness, Education, Housing Development, and Behavioral Health.

About the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) works to protect and improve the health and environment of all Kansans. KDHE’s work impacts the lives of Kansans every day through its three divisions: Public Health, Environment and Health Care Finance (Medicaid). The important tasks the agency performs range from health prevention and promotion, responding to public health emergencies, licensing hospitals and health care facilities to monitoring air and water quality and regulating landfills, as well as overseeing the state’s Medicaid program. For more information about KDHE, visit KDHE’s website.

About Topeka Correctional Facility (TCF) and Kansas Correctional Industries (KCI)

Topeka Correctional Facility (TCF) and Kansas Correctional Industries (KCI) operate under the auspices of the Kansas Department of Corrections to support the Department’s mission of investing in individuals, fostering an environment for change and well-being, and engaging with communities to enhance public safety.

Through KCI’s mission of providing supervised, productive, and meaningful work experiences, TCF and KCI support skill development, accountability, and successful reentry. This approach aligns with the Department’s vision of transforming lives by creating opportunities for personal and professional advancement, reducing recidivism, and easing the long-term demand for public resources.

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