Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Kosciusko County Drug Task Force isn't the only program with the goal of reducing local drug use.
Other organizations are working to prevent narcotic addiction within communities as well, though certain projects don't always rely on specific drug education.
Within the last two months, an independent Bowen Center project began in Syracuse to help youth concentrate on school work and the improvement of positive social skills.
The Kosciusko Community Hospital has often worked with the Bowen Center's services to assist individuals with rehabilitation goals and psychiatric services, but, in this case, the organization is working on its own.
After finding a significant number of police reports involved residents of the Enchanted Hills trailer park, Syracuse, Steve Possell, director of the Bowen Center's Syracuse branch, created a program to come to the aid of the neighborhood's youth.
"The initial idea was to find a service we could create for a greatly underserviced area," Possell said.
Youth, ranging from 4- to 17-years old, meet with Bowen Center employees and partake in recreational activities, educational groups and homework assistance. An estimated 25 children participate in the program per night, with the program running Monday through Saturday. Anger management, anti-bullying lectures and mentoring efforts have also been used to promote less hostile environments in the neighborhood.
"We do alot of recreational and therapeutic activities, even though the kids don't always realize it's not therapeutic," Possell said. "We're hoping to be positive role models and provide them with something positive to do.
"Many of them don't have the money or transportation to get involved in community programs. If they aren't doing something with us, then they'd probably be doing nothing at all."
Possell hopes the program will be extended, and that a building can be acquired for its use. One of his main goals is to start a recrational league that could be held on a nightly basis.
"We've received letters from the kids that thank us for being there and working with them," he said. "A couple of have said they wouldn't know what they'd be doing if they didn't have us."
