Jasper County Cares coalition begin sustainability planning

The Jasper County Cares Coalition has begun its sustainability planning for programs funded by two grants that are set to expire this year.

Nikki Gunn, substance abuse prevention specialist with Employee and Family Resources, updated the coalition at its virtual January meeting about the status the two active grants in the County. In regards to the Strategic Prevention Framework Rx grant. The goal is to establish a funding plan to ensure the programs implemented using the grant funding can continue when the funds expire in August.

“I’m 100 percent dedicated to our sustainability planning,” Gunn said.

A subcommittee met following the regular meeting to discuss planning and filling out form for the Iowa Department of Public Health. The grant has created educational opportunities like Strengthening Family Program that have been implemented at the ISU Extension, Newton schools and the the Newton Police Department. Gunn will have more updates on the sustainability plan at future meetings.

For the Integrated Network Provider grant, Gunn told the group about the Community Assessment Workbook (CAW), which conducted interviews in 2020 to gather information to compile into one document. Gunn has received the completed workbook and continues to dig into it and will share the information with the coalition as she complies the information.

“So you guys can see and compare the SPF one to this one and see how the changes the coalition has been making in the county has been really excited about collecting data and getting that taken care of,” Gunn said.

On final note Gunn made about the INP grant is they are looking to schedule drug-free workplace trainings.

“Drug-free workplaces trainings are to educate supervisors on reasonable suspicion. A lot of small business and large businesses can actually get a discount if their supervisors are trained in reasonable suspicion and they can provide proof and certification which we do give certificates,” Gunn said.

For businesses that are interested in the training, contact Gunn to get that set up for the business.

Contact Pam Pratt at 641-792-3121 ext. 6530 or pampratt@newtondailynews.com