WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Drug Court is facing some possible set backs this fall. The grant funding the court’s full-time coordinator and case manager was not renewed for extension and will expire on Sept. 30.

The drug court offers a sentencing alternative for non-violent offenders who are addicted to or abusing illicit drugs. The program does this through a multi-disciplinary and collaborative intensive rehabilitative services approach. Read more program details here.

“The first thing I want people to know is that the drug court is not going away,” said Kosciusko County Drug Court Director Ron Ousley, going on to explain that the drug court will continue to exist in some capacity.

But without the extension of the grant, the coordinator’s position is in jeopardy. Why the grant was denied is still unknown.

Ousley’s job is a complex one. As coordinator he maintains and coordinates team and staff meetings, works with all service providers and handles the budgeting, grant writing and other funding.

For his role as the full-time case manager, Ousley cares for 27 of the current 30 active participants. Case managers work to make sure their participants are completing all their goals, including monitoring drug screens, going to court and visiting the Bowen Center. Participants also get one-on-one visits that help monitor the participants’ personal lives and help them get around personal hurdles. This includes anything that would hinder recovery, job and housing placement and recommendation of different services.

Case managers also write up weekly summaries that are presented to the judges for one-on-one consultations. These summaries cover any positive or negatives observed in the participant’s life and include drug screen results.

Ousley states that his job doesn’t stop at the door at the end of the work day. “I’m available any time [to participants],” he said. “Even if it’s 2 a.m.”

To date, the program has graduated 25 participants, with the 26th participant graduating at the end of August. Of those 25 graduates, only 4 have reoffended. “We have a high success rate,” states Ousley.

There are some funding possibilities available to the county to be able to continue Ousley’s role. Ousley stated that the largest concern is time, with a mere 45 days until the grant expires.

One option is to switch the position’s funding to a user fee account. Ousley states that “this is a process in itself” and needs to be voted on by the Kosciusko County Council, of which there’s only one meeting before the expiration date.

Another option could be a 4100-series Home Rule Fund. This fund is a donation based fund. The State Board of Accounts states that for this fund, in accordance to Indiana Code 36-1-3, “Separate donations funds may be established for various specific purposes in the county using Home Rule.”

If a home rule fund was established, fundraising could be used to raise money to fund the position.

The availability of the program saves the county, and the taxpayer, a significant amount of money. “For every dollar of taxpayer money that goes into the program, people save $3-14,” explained Ousley. It is estimated that the county has saved $600,000 since the introduction of the program.

Ousley’s main concern is not for his job but for the people the program helps. “If my position goes away, that’s what is meant to be,” says Ousley. “My only concern is that this program stays.”

For any questions about the program or donating, coordinator Ron Ousley can be reached at (574) 265-2348.