Community Impact Report

As we conclude this grant opportunity, the Spencer County community has experienced movement and awareness in the area of mental health and substance abuse that would not have been possible without the generosity of Lilly Endowment and the GIFT VII Planning and Implementation grants. The Spencer County Community Foundation has seen positive outcomes with the funded projects as shown below:

Success Through Mentoring 

• Fifteen youth are participating in the STM program, with 24 mentor volunteers. 
• STM is working with two local high schools to develop a mentoring program called Natural Helpers where juniors and seniors will visit the elementary schools and mentor students. 
• STM hosted Gary's Place Community Garden which allowed mentors and mentees an opportunity to work together and gain new skills. STM has provided thousands of pounds of vegetables to anyone in need in the community free of charge. 
• STM has supplied tutors to youth in the program. 
• STM has helped with a job search for one of the youth participants. 
• Schools and parents have reported improvement in program participants’ grades and attitudes. 

Safe Now Foundation 

• Safe Now Foundation has completed all renovations to the Rockport facility and NOW Counseling provides clinical services at this location, serving approximately 20 clients on a weekly basis. 
• Safe Now Foundation has a new collaborative partnership with Purdue Extension whereby Purdue offers life skills courses to all NOW Counseling clients. 
• Community members utilize the facility free of charge to host support group meetings and other events. 
• GED/HSE tutoring is provided at the facility. 
• Safe Now Foundation continues to provide transportation for clients in need. 
• All of the women’s residential housing spaces are occupied, and the facility is at full capacity. 

Spencer County CASA 

• CASA successfully trained five new volunteers. 
• Due to the training of new volunteers and with the assistance of existing volunteers, CASA served 39 children on its waitlist. 
• CASA used technology to effectively train volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond through the purchase of a Zoom subscription. 
• CASA provided continued training of staff and existing volunteers. 
• CASA continues in its volunteer recruiting efforts.

Spencer County CASA continues to see a vital need for trained advocates due to the number of children in the court system. However, due to lack of interest and commitment, CASA did not train any new volunteers during this reporting period. CASA is actively recruiting volunteers and hosting training sessions for current volunteers. 

STM has collaborated with the two local high schools to provide a mentoring program called Natural Helpers with the vision of high school juniors and seniors serving as a mentor to students in the local elementary schools. During this reporting period, the program has grown to 22 adult mentors and 16 youth mentees. This has allowed for each youth mentee to be paired with an adult mentor. In addition, tutoring is offered to youth participants and job search assistance is offered to older mentees. STM also assists with school expenses that the mentees may incur, such as required books and fees. Lastly, STM has supported the community’s local garden by providing the mentor/mentee pair with an activity, as well as providing the mentee’s family with fresh produce. STM grew, maintained, and distributed 9,480 pounds of vegetables to anyone in need, free of charge. The community has a positive view the program, its mentors, and life skills provided to the youth participants. 

During the first reporting period, Safe Now Foundation completed the renovation of a building in Spencer County where Now Counseling Services is located. This building provides the community with the first certified recovery residence in Spencer County, as well as space for offices, community activities, recovery meetings, GED tutoring, mentoring, and other activities free of charge to members of the community. During this reporting period, the facility continues to operate with six full-time staff members and houses eight women on the second floor recovery residence. Due to social distancing accommodations, Safe Now Foundation determined that the purchase of additional tables and chairs was unnecessary. The money in that budget line item is being redeployed to other line items where expenses were greater than originally expected. In addition, the organization determined that it was more feasible to purchase an eight-seat SUV instead of a van.

The three collaborating organizations have maintained momentum during this granting period and are beginning to reach their goals/outcomes.

Spencer County CASA continues to see a vital need for trained advocates due to the number of children in the court system. During this reporting period, three new volunteers completed the training to become advocates. These advocates were assigned to a case after completing 30 hours of training over the course of six weeks. In order to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate, the volunteers completed classroom style sessions via Zoom, reviewed/read materials before each class, conducted courtroom observations, and learned from an experienced volunteer. Between the three new advocates and the existing advocates, CASA was able to serve 30 children during this granting period.

STM has made strides, although COVID-19 presented many challenges for the organization. The executive director of the organization has established relationships with the local schools, organizations, county officials, and the community. These relationships have assisted with marketing efforts to promote the program. During this reporting period, the program has grown to 20 adult mentors and 15 youth mentees. This has allowed for each youth mentee to be paired with an adult mentor. In addition, tutoring is offered to youth participants. STM also assists with school expenses that the mentees may incur, such as required books and fees. Lastly, STM has supported the community’s local garden by providing the mentor/mentee pair with an activity, as well as providing the mentee’s family with fresh produce. The role models and life skills that this program provides have been positively received in the community.

During the last reporting period, Safe Now Foundation completed the renovation of a building in Spencer County where Now Counseling Services is housed. This building provides the community with the first certified recovery residence in Spencer County, as well as space for offices, community activities, recovery meetings, GED tutoring, mentoring, and other activities free of charge to members of the community. During this reporting period, the building has been utilized to its full potential by providing education, support, guidance, and housing.

As of April 2021, all organizations have been able to utilize the grant dollars in some capacity. 

Safe Now Foundation has fully renovated the property located in Rockport including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and paint.  The exterior of the building was kept up to code with the local historic district to maintain appearance in the community.  The ground floor of the building is used for office space as well as community activities including recovery meetings, GED tutoring, mentoring, and other activities free of charge to the community.  The second floor of the building was remodeled to host the first certified recovery residence in Spencer County, housing eight women. 

Spencer County CASA has trained three new volunteers to become advocates.  These advocates were assigned to their first case after thirty hours of training over the course of six weeks. 

STM successfully established their organization in Spencer County and hired an executive director.  The organization currently has adult mentors committed and trained and working with local schools to establish communication for mentee referrals.