[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6220146,"mediaKeyId","3618754-ef6a2948edcd953f6572b6a1b94b5aac","parentId",3618754,"title","Commission recommends new member to county and nominates Gigi as chair","audioSeconds",253,"startMs",3245000,"endMs",3498000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3618754-ef6a2948edcd953f6572b6a1b94b5aac&start=3245&end=3498","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3618754-ef6a2948edcd953f6572b6a1b94b5aac/thumbnail_3245000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6220146/Jefferson-County/Indiana/Commission-recommends-new-member-to-county-and-nominates-Gigi-as-chair","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220146-96f5ca20d3feb575b9ba6591d5daf77d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775275006&Signature=c1i2zUIR9YQa9YgoseMFa3m88YAiW2uF~zRbUN1~k7pic7~SrhrUFcpkxKh~qlWJB8Eh8OGaoGj-ey6jMdONYjAOWa-ckc3~kTDmfdfk4p4H5Yft3vrHRGdIiTGwgWVboTottxBQdwiFQBG-PF0Bm4UA6255kFx0MSuJgpWF6CMY5LIKIJx8HXlAEPB6DoUeZ7EJK3QD6eNB70qJ7T4j9iQX5aLHlOFe~8UszE0Q2hEnkfynnUJGoHPoiYsvnd6485ve3VODs2bVW6iNn6HmM2g1KKvoeKvWJbA6GOki3y3j0Wm2SmVeNuivVWOt1wWAjpUjy2tefcDpa0hIxxkhwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Jefferson County IN","date","2025-05-30T00:09:57Z","article","At the May 29 meeting the Jefferson County Health and Human Relations Commission voted to recommend that the county commissioners appoint applicant Lauren Steele to fill an open seat on the commission.

A member moved to recommend adding Lauren (spelled in the record as “Lawrence” but listed in application materials as Lauren Steele) and the motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The commission agreed to forward the recommendation to county administration for placement on the commissioners' agenda.

The commission also nominated and approved a new chairperson. A member formally nominated Gigi to serve as chair; another member seconded the nomination and the commission approved the nomination by voice vote. The commission agreed to enact the chair change at the June meeting and to coordinate with county staff for the administrative update.

The commission recorded follow-up steps: staff will notify Lauren Steele of the recommendation to the county commissioners and the commission's administrative staff will add the appointment and the chair transition to the county agenda for formal action. The commission did not change bylaws or take other governance actions at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jefferson County Health and Human Relations Commission meeting on Thursday, 29 May 2025.","oneSentenceSummary","The Jefferson County Health and Human Relations Commission voted to recommend applicant Lauren Steele to the county commissioners and nominated member Gigi to serve as the commission's chair; both items will be forwarded to county administration for formal appointment and enactment.","taxTitle","Jefferson County, Indiana","taxId",52164,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6220151,"Commission raises civil-rights concerns about sheriff’s self-defense class entry rules",600,3720000,4320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3618754-ef6a2948edcd953f6572b6a1b94b5aac&start=3720&end=4320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3618754-ef6a2948edcd953f6572b6a1b94b5aac/thumbnail_3720000.jpg","/articles/6220151/Jefferson-County/Indiana/Commission-raises-civil-rights-concerns-about-sheriffs-self-defense-class-entry-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220151-273062e133d4ccf5eae36c2aee98d4f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775275006&Signature=Rc729KGo156TyU6RsyLe3Il~WAUzyxbV61GzUo-F8GuP76F7LbJvQ-cMSPtawzgBR~98kKb8t2xanC~NYtAfFGeM00cDvO3x1ZgozhyNCQ4vdYG8GqiqAc3olVCJKIBV5dnoVhpsV~dHhaeo3ptOEQdjXlFd9wvIjmVxBZXH3mxQwptHi9zni9zk4SvvvvCQCAjyJU~9IWjYdjXHfSvMXlWvMLgbw~dqSKAE0T3T8y4YoGTsQMf-D4WwVdN69u~qErebk8Mbke-T64pDPCdCNi4~CXnPOWoBWwFq80FdPyBx-JGAdZ15rztD~83mCnybjhQiSjzVujNV4mjwTv~rdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Jefferson County Health and Human Relations Commission on May 29 raised concerns about participation criteria listed on a flyer for a self-defense course run by or through the sheriff's office, saying the flyer required attendees to be U.S. citizens and excluded people with felony convictions.

Commission member Amanda Chandler and others said the citizenship requirement could exclude people who are legally present in the United States on visas, green cards, refugee status or other lawful statuses. “In our county…1.2% of our population were not born in the U.S., and about 3.6% speak a language other than English at home,” a commission member said when urging sensitivity to noncitizen residents. The member also noted that the 1964 Federal Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of national origin and suggested the commission examine whether the county should seek legal guidance.

Commissioners said they had not yet heard directly from the sheriff's office about the flyer and asked for a factual check: why were the restrictions included, and whether an alternative — such as background checks or other screening that does not use citizenship as a criterion — would address the sheriff's operational concerns. One member urged the commission to contact Sheriff Flint with a neutral request for clarification; commissioners assigned follow-up to a member who volunteered to ask general questions about the class and the reasons for the eligibility rules.

Commissioners also discussed the exclusion of people with felony convictions. Members acknowledged that screening for violent criminal history could be a legitimate safety measure but urged that blanket exclusions may be overly broad and discourage participation by people who pose no safety risk. The commission did not adopt policy or file a complaint at the meeting; members agreed to request information from the sheriff's office and to relay findings at a future meeting.","Commission members questioned why a sheriff's office flyer limited attendance to U.S. citizens and excluded people with felony convictions. Members flagged potential conflict with the 1964 Civil Rights Act and asked to discuss participation criteria with the sheriff's office.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6220156,"Commission discusses countywide strategic plan draft, proposes survey and community outreach",511,2432000,2943000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3618754-ef6a2948edcd953f6572b6a1b94b5aac&start=2432&end=2943","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3618754-ef6a2948edcd953f6572b6a1b94b5aac/thumbnail_2432000.jpg","/articles/6220156/Jefferson-County/Indiana/Commission-discusses-countywide-strategic-plan-draft-proposes-survey-and-community-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220156-8fd69287fd1b87f7d13f40ee8a7f2fa5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775275006&Signature=nRoFqph--h00yujsgaCjZ-mM4lGP6DB1Pe7Fe14WS04mNWTB9vhjF7oxDP7PS-tFJugcjUKLGPCLpGYn34OIN4ulQFozPhm9jSMPtV9lgj5qmiSfGQOn295LejktoHsazKRxQvt~HvFPHBIg52n1PTIqwWE2Dbphgq3KFoaMdmQiV8kwTeLShf81lMXzkZktqsg7M9~86pCvEIiu1FiZv6UWfyXZ9nUg2kldhPC9yx3CsY460OAuAUZrrMA2PuYCwpZ71XYHHCWBHi3ZCJ9jgUwF5tp2Emoj4d1W5c8h60p323FRBLYXwN7i2FHdL1r58tqZYQ5ngbnsJdLWZv3yoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the May 29 meeting the Jefferson County Health and Human Relations Commission discussed creating a concise strategic plan to define the commission's priorities and to support future grant applications.

Commission member Gigi and other commissioners outlined a preference for a short, infographic-style plan rather than an extensive document. “We were sort of leaning towards something like that rather than constructing a great big 85-page document,” a commission member said when describing examples from other public health departments. The commission emphasized the need to represent the whole county — not only Madison and Hanover — and reviewed maps and population data to help shape outreach.

Members agreed on next steps: each commissioner will propose two survey questions to help identify community needs across Jefferson County; the survey would be distributed through county channels, at festivals, QR codes at public events and via partner organizations. The commission noted existing resources such as the county comprehensive plan and suggested pulling relevant items from that document as a starting point.

Commission discussion included coordination with town-level human relations groups. Commissioners described Madison's human-relations committee activities — including neighborhood block parties and a “human library” concept — as potential collaboration models for outreach in other county communities. Commissioners also flagged grant-readiness as a reason to finalize a strategic plan: foundations and state grant programs often ask for a documented plan when reviewing applications.

Follow-up actions recorded by the commission included collecting suggested survey questions, reviewing the county comprehensive plan and circulating a draft mission statement to members before the next meeting. No formal vote was taken at the meeting on a final plan; the commission scheduled continued work and outreach to stakeholders in June and July.","Members of the Jefferson County Health and Human Relations Commission reviewed options for a concise strategic plan, agreed to draft survey questions to assess county needs and to coordinate with municipal human relations groups and community events for broader outreach.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6220159,"Recovery Cafe asks Jefferson County to help publicize services, seeks grant funding amid cuts",379,61000,440000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3618754-ef6a2948edcd953f6572b6a1b94b5aac&start=61&end=440","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3618754-ef6a2948edcd953f6572b6a1b94b5aac/thumbnail_61000.jpg","/articles/6220159/Jefferson-County/Indiana/Recovery-Cafe-asks-Jefferson-County-to-help-publicize-services-seeks-grant-funding-amid-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220159-aec9bdac5f32a40bb95dacbda3f80d98/orig.mp4?Expires=1775275006&Signature=lgTG5Pji6Yla0f53wMDGEeXiWfgGn33E7JVWvEFtqFGlHJqIC3I683oJjXmSPLGq51Mobb7raBxALpUdA2dmGZBPayJaRSX99KXBYCmhihrwQI36qNjhdzoFMYixNJAYKbGQOdaGi0ZBrJP4kjRxCSvvYT2DeKGSbfXXdNACye2eOQOtcibXwcKhis~ktAfzOA3ffclOUxpTFjRQLMeBqv2plvY0C2kzqNJTuKZVBrlA3ArgLcWhyiOGdDTIKB05irlMw9nGxlZ2w0qp3UrlaG49coX~W-2-a8mw0XTNjWSdfaCuEiSb85s5B7c77wZP6Ybm20NUlLnLpm2g9IQ-xA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Recovery Cafe executive director Michelle Jones told the Jefferson County Health and Human Relations Commission on May 29 that the peer-run drop-in center in downtown Madison is operating with reduced grant support and is seeking donations and new grant funding to continue services.

The cafe, housed in the basement of the old Eddleston (Evanston) building, serves dinner on every day it is open — Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday — and offers activities including recovery circles, art, games and once-a-month sober socials. “We believe that everybody is recovering from something,” Michelle Jones, executive director of Recovery Cafe, said. She said the cafe helps people with practical needs such as replacing driver's licenses, finding housing and securing bank accounts.

The commission heard concrete numbers and service examples during the presentation: the cafe provided more than 300 meals each month during a recent January–March period, and a previously run Member Financial Assistance (MFA) program gave eligible members up to $500 a month for essentials; that program has been cut after statewide grant reductions. “I've talked to DMHA. They don't know when they'll be getting those [funds] back,” Jones said, referencing state agencies that had provided previous support. She said the group had to sell a van after government funding decreased and now relies heavily on donations and partnerships with local groups, including First Financial bank and the Salvation Army.

Commissioner Dave Bremer and other commissioners suggested county help with publicity and with scanning for possible grant opportunities. Bremer agreed to provide instructions for getting Recovery Cafe events on the county calendar; a staff follow-up item on the commission's action list asks the county to post Recovery Cafe event details and circulate flyers. The commission also noted outreach possibilities such as including Recovery Cafe in county web listings and community event calendars.

Commissioners and members of the cafe discussed barriers clients face after release from incarceration, including an acute housing shortage. “If they have the funding themselves, they'll give them a tent,” Jones said, describing how parole sometimes places people who are homeless without adequate housing options. The cafe also partners with local agencies and programs — including River Valley resources, Jefferson House and Ruth Haven — to try to place clients and to transport people to treatment partners such as Sunrise Recovery.

The commission did not take formal funding action at the meeting. Commissioners recorded follow-up tasks: staff will post Recovery Cafe event information on the county calendar and circulation channels; Commissioner Bremer and county staff will monitor grant opportunities and relay leads to the cafe; and the commission will keep the cafe on its radar for future consideration.

Recovery Cafe representatives said volunteers and donations remain the group's immediate needs; Jones offered to send flyers and contact information to the commission for posting. The cafe's location and contact details are available on its website; the group said it will provide materials for county promotion.","At its May 29 meeting the Jefferson County Health and Human Relations Commission heard from Recovery Cafe officials about drop in nonprofit grant funding, housing shortages for people exiting incarceration, and programs the cafe runs to help people in recovery. Commissioners agreed to help publicize the group's events and look for grant leads.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission recommends new member to county and nominates Gigi as chair

Commission raises civil-rights concerns about sheriff’s self-defense class entry rules

Commission discusses countywide strategic plan draft, proposes survey and community outreach

Recovery Cafe asks Jefferson County to help publicize services, seeks grant funding amid cuts