The Magoffin County Extension Office was given the opportunity to be involved with the Kentucky Mission Bible Training Center, Salyersville, Kentucky, which is a rehabilitation facility for drug addicts in the area.  The mission is operated completely on a faith-based principle, with not federal or state funding.  After speaking with the director of the mission, we were given two opportunities to present different programs for the group.  We were allowed to share with them through the SNAP program, giving them the experience of preparing different dishes and trying out new recipes from that program.  In addition, we were allowed to come into the facility for eight weeks to teach the Recovering Your Finances curriculum, which has been released recently by Kelly May, Financial Specialist at the University of Kentucky.

The facility housed 9 people at the time of the presentations, and were a mixture of males and females.   Their schedules were very regimented and strict, and were run by the clock, giving them set amounts of time for allowed activities.  Every moment of the day was accounted for precisely, and documented.  The curriculum was presented each Tuesday morning at 11:40 AM.  They were very receptive to the information that they were given and participated in a very respectful manner.

When surveyed, 100% of those participating stated that they would definitely use many of the tools that they were given in the curriculum to manage their finances.  Several of the participants indicated that they have struggled with debt and money management for years.  Many questions were asked during the lesson times about how the information could be applied to their specific situations.  

Given the fact that they were on such a tightly supervised schedule, it took more time than the lessons would normally have taken, but each time, participants were eager to listen, learn and participate.  Some of the participants indicated on their surveys that the need for money had been the cause for their illegal dealings with money by selling drugs.  Because they were involved in selling the illegal medications, they began to take them as well.  It was surprising to see how open to discussion that the participants were, particularly when talking about their personal lives.  

We are hopeful that we will be given another opportunity to present these valuable lesson materials to another group in the months to come.  It was definitely a success at the Kentucky Mission Bible Training Center.