By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — The city of Warsaw is also seeking a matching grant through the state for opioid settlement money.
The city is seeking $137,000 to expand its CARES program to include a more active role in opioid and substance abuse disorder, according to paperwork included in information ahead of Friday’s board of works meeting.
This is in addition to a grant request of $405,000 made earlier this week by Kosciusko County.
The CARES program, which is part of Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, began about two years ago with the intention of providing mental health support and related services that first responders often come across but traditionally are not equipped to provide.
CARES has seen a growing emphasis on how it responds to substance abuse as the county sees a record number of overdose deaths. One of the chief roles of the program involves the distribution and use of free doses of Narcan to emergency responders who come across people suspected of overdosing.
If awarded, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory intends to use the money to increase community education, access to resources, training for public safety workers and additional distribution of Narcan.
The territory is currently seeking to acquire 350 additional doses of Narcan for distribution purposes.
The city board of works will meet at 10:30 a.m. Friday at city hall to discuss the plan.
The fire territory has already filed its application with the state because of the short time available to prepare.
The application was filed after consulting with Mayor Joe Thallemer and others in the fire territory, according to paperwork available on the city website.
