Commissioners support Project Hope
MARSHALL COUNTY — The Marshall County Commissioners approved support to commit the restricted / abated funds from the 2022 and 2023 Opioid Settlement in the anticipated two-year total amount of $116,097.44 to Marshall County’s Project HOPE. Project HOPE provides comprehensive services and coordinated access to opioid / substance use prevention, treatment and recovery resources at no-cost in Marshall County.
Marshall County Superior Court No. 3 Judge Matthew Sarber updated the commissioners on the history of Project HOPE in Marshall County. He illustrated that the bulk of the funds are used for two primary resources / services.
The first is to provide Peer Recovery Coaches for individuals who are recovering from Substance Use Disorder. Judge Sarber said that Peer Recovery Coaches cover only one of many facets of recovery. “Recovery is very, very multi-faceted. It takes numerous attempts and numerous individuals to address the individual personally. We don’t know when they will have the moment where they turn the corner but we can create enough circumstances that they will eventually have that moment. The Peer Recovery Coaches fill one of those facets.”
One particularly vulnerable group of Individuals are those who are released from jail and are not on Community Corrections or on Probation; they can suffer a “complete void in services”. Peer Recovery Coaches are intended to fill that gap.
Peer Recovery Coaches are also provided to clients on Community Corrections, Probation, and Marshall County Drug Court participants. Judge Sarber noted that while all elements of the Criminal Justice and Court System are important from Probation, to Community Corrections to Incarceration - Peer Recovery Coaches are trained to provide unique assistance to an individual in recovery including after hours mentorship. Individuals who have developmental or experiential deficiencies can also be provided with a Skills Coach.
Funds also support the Marshall County Public Transit service provided through Marshall County Council on aging to provide transportation for individuals in recovery to meetings, appointments, court obligations, and support groups. For individuals who have transportation issues, do not have a driver’s license, or cannot afford a vehicle - providing transportation to their services is a critical component in supporting their recovery.
Director of Marshall County Community Foundation and United Way Linda Yoder emphasized that Project HOPE has already been meeting the restrictive requirements of use designated for the abated funds.
The timely commitments provided by the cities and towns in Marshall County has paved the way to potentially multiply those funds by applying for a $1 for $1 match through the Family of Social Services administration (FSSA).
according to Yoder $274,348.19 has been released locally to
support Project HOPE. Though funding could have been requested in a match higher or lower than the $1 match; the team assessed their financial needs for the next two years and applied for $346,424.46 to cover transportation, Peer Recovery Coaches and the establishment of a Recovery Cafe.
Yoder elaborated that a Recovery Cafe is an alcohol free location where individuals who are in recovery and their families can meet. The collaboration will be led by a Director to help identify what resources the local population needs most and assist in bringing those resources in. Recovery Cafe is a national program with a successful location already active in Fulton County.
That ambition will be dependent upon funding and grant matching; but Yoder confirmed that even just the local Opioid Settlement amounts will enable much needed assistance to continue for individuals in recovery and their families.
Individuals who are need of the support provided by Project HOPE should call 574-216-3459, email projecthopemarshall@gmail.com, or go to Facebook @ Projecthopemarshallcounty.