RETAIN Kentucky Peer Mentor Shares Life’s Possibilities After an Injury or Illness August 2023 RETAIN Success Story RETAIN Kentucky peer mentors help participants overcome employment challenges following an injury or illness. Through their shared experiences, mentors provide guidance and model that a rewarding life and career are possible after an injury or illness.
BACKGROUND RETAIN Kentucky helps participants successfully stay at work (SAW) or return to work (RTW) after an illness or injury. Together, RETAIN Kentucky RTW coordinators and participants develop SAW/RTW plans that address barriers that can affect a participant’s ability to SAW or RTW. These plans may include workplace accommodations and other supportive services and resources such as housing, transportation, and childcare.
Challenge-ActionResults Challenge: Some employees struggle to adjust to lifestyle changes after an injury or illness, making it difficult for them to stay at or return to work.
CHALLENGE After an illness or injury, some participants struggle to adjust to changes in their work and personal lives, which can make a successful return to work difficult. They may have to find new ways to navigate their work responsibilities or adjust to changes in their roles at work and at home. RETAIN Kentucky Peer Mentoring Coordinator Jason Jones understands these challenges first-hand, having experienced a spinal cord injury thirty-three years ago. He found that the support and guidance he received from others with similar injuries helped him adjust to his post-injury life and work. “They showed me the way and helped me through things, answered questions about everything from insurance to, ‘Why does this hurt? What can I do with my life?’” Jason said. “The shared experience made a huge difference.”
RETAIN | AIR
Action: RETAIN Kentucky offers a peer mentoring service to all participants. Participants are paired with mentors who have experienced a disability and offer weekly follow ups and guidance to help participants improve their post-injury work and life. Results: RETAIN Kentucky’s peer mentors have provided customized support to 57 participants. Nearly 75 percent of peermentored participants who completed the RETAIN Kentucky program have returned to work.
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