All posts by Mitch Columbe

The Community Foundation of Pulaski County (CFPC), Pulaski County Drug-Free Council and the Local Coordinating Council (LCC), are pleased to announce $402,800 has been awarded to Pulaski County.

The Family & Social Services Administration’s (FSSA) Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) awarded these funds to build and support projects across Indiana to improve mental health and recovery services for Hoosiers. This includes funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and the National Opioid Settlement that totals more than $76 million.

In 2019, CFPC released a report called “Conversations with Our Community” which noted that Pulaski County wanted a safe and drug-free community. CFPC, in partnership with Pulaski County Drug-Free Council, developed a “Community Action Plan” to address substance misuse in our community. This plan was developed based on the core activities outlined in the National Opioid Settlement distribution.

Indiana is a part of the $26 billion national settlement and the state received approximately $507 million, which is distributed to all cities, towns and counties in the state who are participating in the settlement. Pulaski County received its first distribution earlier this year and will continue to receive funds through approximately 2037.

During the joint council sessions in February, CFPC and the Pulaski County Drug-Free Council presented the “Community Action Plan” to the council members as a recommendation on how to utilize the opioid settlement funds. At that time, the request was made and granted to apply for the FSSA matching grant. DMHA received 78 proposals requesting a total of $93 million in response to the grant. However, Pulaski County was a successful applicant and was awarded $402,800 for the community to address substance misuse in the county.

The FSSA grant will be funded July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025.