The Putnam County Community Foundation (PCCF) has announced the recipients of its Mental Health and Substance Use Special Grants Initiative, distributing a total of $180,500. This funding is part of a targeted initiative aimed at improving mental health and substance use outcomes in Putnam County.
The initiative was established in response to the 2023 Community Needs Assessment, which identified mental health and substance use as urgent concerns in the area. To address these issues, PCCF formed a specialized task force to examine these needs in-depth and develop a comprehensive response. The task force consulted over 40 local stakeholders and reviewed 19 submissions in a Request for Information (RFI) process. Based on their findings, they have allocated grants to organizations actively working to address these challenges.
The task force, consisting of experts from healthcare, education, probation, and mental health services, identified four key focus areas:
- Collaboration
- Prevention and Advocacy
- Intervention and Harm Reduction
- Recovery
The goal of the grants is to support initiatives that expand services, enhance accessibility, and encourage community collaboration. According to Kyle Beasley, president of PCCF’s board, “These grants represent a significant step forward in addressing some of the most pressing challenges identified by our community through our Community Needs Assessment.”
Grant Recipients:
The following organizations have been awarded grants to enhance mental health and substance use services in the county:
- Beyond Homeless, Inc. — To expand mental health and substance use support services with added staff and resources.
- Cummins Behavioral Health — To incentivize the recruitment of new mental health providers through sign-on bonuses.
- Family Support Services of West Central Indiana — To enhance 24/7 access to case management for individuals affected by mental health or substance use issues.
- Ivy Tech Community College — A planning grant to explore expanding the Recovery Scholars program into Putnam County.
- Mental Health of America of Putnam County — To develop a new website and provide additional administrative support.
- Putnam County Recovery Coalition — To develop a new website.
- Putnam County Youth Development Commission — To provide administrative support for the CASA program, including substance use-related training.
Elizabeth Butts, executive director of Family Support Services of West Central Indiana, expressed hope that the grants would provide individuals with additional support to access mental health and addiction services, empowering them during their healing and recovery journey.
Lea Anne Crooks, Ph.D., chancellor of Ivy Tech Terre Haute/Greencastle, also noted, “We look forward to examining the need for and benefit of establishing a scholarship program aimed at helping those successful in recovery find their purpose through an educational pathway.”
Looking Ahead
The task force’s future recommendations focus on continued collaboration, expanded youth prevention programs, enhanced crisis intervention, harm reduction efforts, and improved recovery services. PCCF is also exploring opportunities to offer free training and professional development for mental health and substance use providers.
In an effort to foster long-term success, PCCF has already begun organizing brainstorming sessions with local organizations and community leaders to develop solutions to mental health and substance use challenges. More than 50 community members have participated in these sessions, and PCCF hopes to build on this collaborative work in 2025.
Neysa Meyer, PCCF’s executive director, emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “These grants will provide the necessary support for organizations already doing incredible work while also fostering greater collaboration across sectors.”
This initiative marks a crucial step in addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing Putnam County and building a stronger, more resilient community.
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