Topeka, KS — February 2026 — SENT, Inc., in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Topeka Correctional Facility (TCF), 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, an innovative initiative designed to strengthen community health while creating meaningful employment pathways for individuals preparing to reenter society.
Through this innovative partnership, individuals currently residing at Topeka Correctional Facility have completed KDHE’s Community Health Worker certification program and are now serving as paid SENT employees while completing onsite, hands-on job training in the Community Health Worker (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 Jeff Zmuda, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Corrections. “This partnership with SENT, Inc. and the KDHE 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.”
Treva Smith of Health Legacy and Restorative Pathways has played a critical role in the success of this program by teaching the Community Health Worker coursework at Topeka Correctional Facility 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.
“This partnership shows what’s possible when public health, workforce development and reentry efforts align,” said Janet Stanek, KDHE Secretary. “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. We’re proud to support a model that strengthens neighborhoods and creates opportunities for Kansas communities.”
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.
“At SENT, we are focused on creating systems that last,” said Jill Rice, Operations Director of SENT, Inc. “This pilot allows us to design and test a Community Health Worker workforce model that supports reentry while meeting real community health needs—one we hope can be replicated across Kansas.”
Beyond job training, participants are connected to wraparound supports that may include housing navigation, case management, employment readiness resources, and access to healthcare and counseling—critical components for reducing recidivism and supporting long-term stability after release.
The program was launched with two Community Health Workers, 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.
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.
For more information, please contact:
Jill Rice
Operations Director
SENT, Inc.
jrice@fellowshiphicrest.com, 785-783-2535