Wichita ? Kansas officials plan to announce that a major goal has been met in a program that matches mentors with convicts to teach the life skills they will need when they get out of prison.

The so-called Mentoring4Success initiative pairs mentors with inmates six to 12 months before their release to reduce the inmates’ risk of committing other crimes and returning to prison.

Gov. Sam Brownback and Corrections Secretary Ray Roberts will attend a news conference with representatives from the program on Tuesday.

The search for additional mentors continues because about 4,700 people are released from prison each year. About half of them need help with housing, employment, family and other issues.