A press conference was held to announce that the city of Valparaiso is partnering with Porter-Starke Services, Porter County, the city of Portage and others to strengthen their steps to make Porter County a drug free county.
The county council has, in the past, increased the size of the drug task force, funded "Pathways" a respite house, and donated to Porter-Starke and Family Services to help address the problem but more help was needed.
"We need to change the message that's not getting across concerning susbtance abuse and drug use" said Karen Conover of the county council. "We all play a part in turning this epidemic around and we all need to be a part of the solution."
Karen then handed the floor over to Rocky Schiralli, President of Porter-Starke services:
"What makes our community great is that we have the confidence and the strength to be able to look at our weaknesses and act upon them. On Behalf of Porter-Starke and our 217 employees, I reaffrim our commitment to improve the quality of life of our communities, to continue to develop meaningful partnerships and work to prevent and treat addiction and mental health disorders and eradicate the social stigma to which they are associated. That's our pledge."
Rocky then introduced Jon Costas to lay out the City's plan for substance Abuse Prevention
"We have a great community. Its a tremendous community. The strengths in this community are unbelievable. Every community has issues they have to deal with and this is our issue that we have to deal with. We'll employ more city resources to help educate young people to avoid reckless decisions. Beginning today we'll go beyond being a fit city to being a healthy community. This will be a renewed commitment to a healthy lifestyle."
The plan was laid out through a hand out:
City Government
- Committed to funding - or managing grants/private donations -- to support the action plan of a Healthy Community Initiative
- Dedicated to leading a task force that manages and measures the success of the Healthy Community Initiative
- To require drug-free policies of businesses bidding on city work
- Compliance checks at retailers selling alcohol or tobacco
- Prescription pill drop-off sites at fire station and police department
- Continued support of the Porter County Drug Task Force
- Full-time school resource officer at Valparaiso High School will begin in 2010
- Referrals to Family & Youth Service Bureau’s evidence based Strengthening Families Program.
Faith-based
- Clergy and youth leaders will receive training in early identification, brief intervention and appropriate referrals to treatment
- Valparaiso Ministerial Association to hold community-wide parenting classes
- Will lead a Juvenile Leadership Summit to gather ideas that will strengthen substance abuse prevention efforts
Non-profits
- Components of elementary Life Skills Training at Valparaiso Parks, Boys & Girls Club, Valparaiso YMCA, and other youth organizations
- Screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment at HealthLinc Community Health Center
- A scholarship fund will be established and managed by the Porter County Community Foundation. These funds will be used to support prevention activities.
Business
- Drug-free policies and discounted behavioral health services promoted through Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce
Education
- Successful CASS and GREAT programs to continue
- An evidence-based Life Skills curriculum will be presented to students at Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, St. Paul Catholic and Immanuel Lutheran Schools - beginning January 2010
- Will expand Adopt-A-School program from Kindergarten through fifth grade with monthly visits from Valparaiso firefighters and police officers to review, reinforce, and support students in making healthy lifestyle choices
Porter-Starke Services
- Provide professional staff to teach Life Skills Training in middle schools plus training for firefighters, police officers, and youth leaders so that the message is reinforced community-wide
- Guidance and discounted pricing for employers interested in employee assistance programs and adopting drug-free policies
- Partnership with HealthLinc Community Health Center to screen adolescents and offer appropriate care
- Continued Support of annual Porter County Epidemiology Profile to evaluate levels of substance abuse
Mayor Jon Costas is creating a Task Force representing the Valparaiso community, with representation from Porter County as well.
"Its time to step it up. Its time to send the message throughout the community that this is a problem that we are going to solve. We'll face it head on. Each in our own way, each with our own resources but acting as one."
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