Leaders are hoping to bring a facility to the area which will help those with mental health needs transition back to everyday life and work.
At its meeting on Wednesday, the Health First Kosciusko (HFK) Advisory Committee heard from Chris Fancil on the subject.
Fancil, the former Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory EMS chief, has been working for Live Well Kosciusko as the executive director for the Kosciusko County Clubhouse project. An informational meeting for the project was held in June.
"A clubhouse is something for someone who has had a mental health diagnosis. It's a voluntary program where people come in," he said. "They spend the day with us in the clubhouse and learn about ... what a work day looks like.
"We do tasks together. We work side-by-side. We build a good social structure for these people to give them support and structure," he said. "The goal, eventually, if they want to, is to get these people back into the workforce."
Fancil said those joining the program will do "transitional" work before ultimately moving to "independent supported" work.
The clubhouse will also help with people's education and health and provide opportunities for socialization, he said.
Live Well Kosciusko President and CEO Lisa Harman said though the proposed clubhouse was currently under Live Well, plans are to make it its own 501(c)(3), with funding to come from Medicaid.
She and Fancil ultimately requested funding from Health First Kosciusko to cover startup costs.
HFK Advisory Committee Chair Dr. Dennis Woodward asked if there was a building yet for the clubhouse. Fancil said no, but hoped to have a converted house for the facility.
Fancil said leaders were also seeking funding from other sources.
The committee agreed to table a decision on paying for the startup costs to its next meeting set for May 28, as it's not certain on the state funding HFK for another two years and the clubhouse request is thousands of dollars. Any funding decisions HFK makes are ultimately recommendations, which must go before the Kosciusko Board of Health and Kosciusko County Commissioners.
In other business, the committee:
• Heard from Committee member and Kosciusko County Commissioner Sue Ann Mitchell that state leaders are considering putting more rules on how Health First funds are spent through language in current budget legislation being considered at the Statehouse. Those include 90% of funds must be spent on set-forth health initiatives outlined by the state versus 60% currently and "eliminat(ing) the ability to spend money for tobacco cessation and food protection," she said. Any funds used would be for programs for "Indiana residents who are citizens of the United States," she added. The rules, if approved, would affect funding from July 1 forward.
• Agreed to recommend to the health board and commissioners that approximately $111,000 go to Live Well Kosciusko for costs associated with tobacco prevention and chronic disease and obesity prevention programming in the county.
The committee's next meeting is 6 p.m. May 28 in the Kosciusko County Courthouse's Old Courtroom.