Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Inspire Indiana Inc. has been awarded $125,000 in Opioid Settlement Funds to expand youth prevention programming, family strengthening services, early intervention supports and community education across Kosciusko and Whitley counties over the next 19 months.
Funding for these initiatives has been provided in part by Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction, according to a news release from Inspire Indiana.
“This funding strengthens our ability to reach youth, families and community members with programs that reduce risk and build resilience,” said Renea Salyer, executive director of Inspire Indiana Inc. “We appreciate DMHA’s commitment to prevention and family well-being.”
The 19-month grant will support seven major strategies:
• Strengthening Families Program (SFP): Expansion of SFP in Kosciusko and Whitley counties, including cohorts for families preparing for reunification after incarceration. Inspire Indiana will train four new facilitators, supported by stipends.
• Youth Prevention Programming: Additional Curriculum-Based Support Group – Rise UP! and Positive Action programming will be offered to a new Kosciusko and Whitley counties partner, providing evidence-based prevention education for elementary and middle school students.
• Parent Café Events: A Brain Summit for parents — will focus on brain development and decision-making. Six additional Parent Cafés will support families navigating challenging behaviors.
• Substance-Free Community Events: Inspire Indiana will host eight substance-free community events — four in Kosciusko County and four in Whitley County — to provide safe, positive, prevention-focused experiences for youth and families. Events will include activities, prevention messaging and connections to local resources.
• SBIRT Community Support: Inspire Indiana will provide free community trainings to community partners to implement Screenings, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) across schools, partner agencies, and community locations to increase early identification and referral pathways for individuals at risk of substance misuse.
• Opioid Prevention Campaign: Inspire Indiana will implement a coordinated opioid prevention campaign across both counties, using evidence-based messaging to educate youth, adults and caregivers about safe medication storage, proper disposal and the prevention of opioid misuse. The campaign will align messaging across community partners and digital platforms to correct misperceptions and strengthen protective factors.
“These funds allow us to meet youth, families, and community where they are — and provide tools that make a real difference,” Salyer said.
Inspire Indiana Inc. is a nonprofit organization serving Kosciusko, Wabash, Miami, and Whitley counties through evidence-based youth prevention programs, family support services and community education initiatives. To learn more or become involved, visit inspire-in.org.
