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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Pete Visclosky today announced that the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education approved $1 million for four programs in Northwest Indiana that promote productivity and workforce participation. The funding is included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.
“These four programs help people in Northwest Indiana maximize their potential and lead meaningful lives,” said Visclosky. “Everybody deserves an opportunity to hone their skills and prepare themselves for a productive life, and Northwest Indiana is fortunate to have these organizations that are committed to that. They help make the region a better place and I am proud to support them.”
Porter-Starke Services is slated to receive $550,000 to construct a new Portage Behavioral Health Center. The new 8,000 square foot center is projected to treat 4,700 individuals with behavior needs annually and employ a staff of 24. Untreated behavioral disorders lead to lower graduation rates, increased drug abuse, increased crime, increased unemployment, and increased rate of suicide, and Porter-Starke Services helps individuals avoid those pitfalls.
“This funding will help Porter-Starke Services expand our services and outreach in Portage,” said Porter-Starke Services President and CEO Rocco Schiralli. “As the fastest growing community in Porter County, Portage will benefit from enhanced service access, additional behavioral health and addictions programs, and the creation of new jobs to support the services. Porter County has struggled in recent years with increasing prevalence of substance abuse and other behavioral health issues. Porter-Starke Services envisions a new facility as a vital step to better meet the needs of the community and provide health, balance and hope now and in the future to families and businesses.”
The University of Saint Francis is slated to receive $200,000 to support the addition of equipment and furnishings for the Nursing Laboratory at its Crown Point campus. The new high-fidelity equipment will allow students to practice nursing skills on low census populations like pediatrics and maternity patients, and let faculty set up high-risk, low-incidence clinical simulations that many students would not otherwise experience. Northwest Indiana has some of the highest nursing vacancy rates in the nation and the expansion of the University’s nursing program will help address that shortage.
“We appreciate Congressman Visclosky's efforts in securing this funding to assist the University of Saint Francis in equipping a state-of-the-art nursing laboratory in Crown Point,” said Margaret Stoffregen-DeYoung, ASN Program Director at the University of Saint Francis Crown Point Campus. “Currently, the University of Saint Francis Crown Point Campus serves the healthcare education needs of the Northwest Indiana region and is proud to be educating the next generation of healthcare professionals in Crown Point.”
Opportunity Enterprises is slated to receive $150,000 to expand its Enriching Possibilities Day Program by engaging clients in meaningful curricular and social activities. Specifically, the funds will be used to create a resource library, establish an Assistive Technology computer lab, purchase equipment to help individuals develop fine motor skills, and set up additional sensory equipment. Opportunity Enterprises creates sustainable life choices and opportunities for individuals with unique challenges and abilities, serving roughly 1,100 people in Northwest Indiana.
“At Opportunity Enterprises, we believe there is more to life than just care and safety, so we have been actively pursuing funds to create an environment that engages our clients in an educational and meaningful way,” said Opportunity Enterprises Grant Specialist Liz Metts. “This funding will allow us to expand the opportunities available for our clients through an expanded adaptive technology lab and library of curricular and sensory equipment.”
Parents as Teachers of Lake County is slated to receive $100,000 to expand its family literacy program, which currently serves 500 families, to include 150 additional families that are presently on the waiting list. Parents as Teachers is a not-for-profit early childhood and support program for families with children up to the age of five in Lake and Porter Counties. The program’s goals are to increase parent knowledge of early childhood development and improve parenting practices, provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues, prevent child abuse and neglect, and increase children’s school readiness and school success. The funds will also be used to develop new Parents as Teachers programs in Benton, Jasper, and Newton Counties.
“Parents as Teachers is a free, voluntary early childhood parent education and support program for families and their children prenatal to age five,” said Parents as Teachers Executive Director Kimberly D. Smith. “The result is that more children are ready for school, health and developmental problems are identified and treated early, and parents learn how to be involved in their children's learning. This funding will be utilized to strengthen and enhance program services and evaluation efforts and allow opportunities for the expansion of Parents as Teachers into more communities.”
The Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill is scheduled for consideration in the full Appropriations Committee on July 17 and on the floor of the House of Representatives on July 22. Subsequent to House passage it must be approved by the Senate before it can be signed into law by the President. |
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