Jefferson County Health Department secures $120K for youth and maternal health programs

The Jefferson County Commissioners convened on April 3, 2025, to discuss several key agreements related to health funding initiatives aimed at improving community health services. The meeting focused on three primary agreements with local organizations, all designed to enhance educational and health services in the county.

The first item on the agenda was a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Community Action Coalition (CAC). This agreement, signed by Commissioner Sarah Berto and the CAC's executive director, allocates $30,000 to expand trauma and injury prevention education in local school systems. The CAC aims to provide mandatory reporting training for adults caring for children, addressing challenges they have faced in accessing schools. The funding is contingent upon the CAC maintaining financial records for three years and reporting quarterly on their progress.

Next, the commissioners discussed a new partnership with Infants in Bloom, an organization focused on supporting infants born with substance use disorders. This agreement will provide $60,000 to support their services, which include weekly home visits to ensure the health needs of these infants are met. The partnership also includes housing vaccines for children through the state’s free vaccine program, aligning with the Health First funding objectives related to maternal and child health.

The final agreement discussed was a contract with the Freedom Center and Southeast Indiana Transitional Resources. This contract, also for $30,000, supports trauma and injury prevention services, particularly focusing on substance use recovery programs. The funding will facilitate recovery groups that have shown promise in reducing recidivism rates among participants. The first payment was made to reimburse the Jefferson House for prior expenses, with additional funding planned for July.

Throughout the meeting, commissioners emphasized the importance of tracking the effectiveness of these programs to ensure they meet the health needs of Jefferson County residents. They expressed optimism about the potential impact of these initiatives on community health outcomes.

In addition to the funding agreements, the meeting concluded with appointments to local boards, including Jane Rosenberger to the Cemetery Board and Stephanie Godward to the Health and Human Relations Commission, both of which aim to enhance community engagement and oversight in local health initiatives.