Front Row: Erin Shidler, Director, Indiana Department of Child Services; Pat Coy, Director, United Way; and Randy Hall, Vice President, Cardinal Services; Back Row: KLA Cadets Bart Gensch, Dalton Foundry; Melinda Schwartz, Cardinal Services; Mitchell Randall, Ivy Tech Community College student and KLA Moderator Allyn Decker share information about Social Services

By JONI TRUEX
Public Information Director, KLA

WARSAW — Hosted by K-21 Health Services, Rich Haddad welcomed the Kosciusko Leadership Academy cadets and guests. Rich explained the K-21 Medical Services Pavilion was the result of a KLA White Paper project. The facility is an all inclusive connected health services center. The space was developed by roundtables with the first tenants, including the creation of a concierge knowledgeable on health services available throughout the county. 

Randy Hall, Cardinal Services, will become the Executive Director upon Jane Wear’s retirement next year. Cardinal Services serves 4,000 people a year. They employ 500 people and have a $21 million dollar operating budget. Randy spoke on certain challenges people face and the programs offered by Cardinal Services to address those needs. The new mission statement recently adopted states “to assist and advocate for people with disabilities or challenges to live lives full of dignity, growth and opportunity.” Cardinal Services area includes five counties: Kosciusko, Cass, Marshall, Fulton and Elkhart. The KLA Cadets and guests were invited to Cardinal Nov. 5.

Erin Shidler, Kosciusko County Director, Indiana Department of Child Services explained they are a reactive agency. DCS, as they are frequently referred to, protects children from abuse and neglect and works to ensure their financial support. The 18 local employees work within Indiana state law. The workload is over 100 children currently. There is a requirement, by law, for anyone that suspects or knows about child abuse to report it by calling 1 (800) 800-5556. 

Once a report is received, it is forwarded to the local office for the final decision. 25 percent of the reports received are screened out because they don’t meet the definition of abuse and or neglect. There are 80 to 100 assessments a month. Each assessment must be determined as substantiated or unsubstantiated. More than half are determined to be unsubstantiated because there is not enough proof. There are many levels of intervention. DCS strives for safely home, families first. There is a need for foster parents here. One caring adult can make a difference in the life of a child. 

Pat Coy, United Way of Kosciusko County, explained the United Way focuses on the local area. Fundraising is completed August through November each year. The United Way funds operations. The highest amount raised through the local campaign is $2,030,000. 90 cents of every dollar brought in goes back out, mainly into the local community (Unless someone requests the funds go to another county). There are three vision councils that focus on three areas — education, income and health initiatives. One of the many programs funded is client tracking software that helps providers see where the person has received assistance.            

The three speakers answered questions from the KLA Cadets and guests. 

KLA is a not for profit organization devoted to serving Kosciusko County by encouraging leaders and future leaders to dream and create a better community through white paper projects. Alumni, cadets and interested parties are encouraged to register through the KLA Website at www.kosciuskoleadership.org