VALPARAISO | Mayor Jon Costas named 37 people Friday to serve on Valparaiso's Substance Abuse Task Force to develop ways of fighting alcohol and drug abuse along with its consequences to the community. One more is expected to be named.
"We're committing resources, organization and enthusiasm to creating an environment where our young people know better and do better," Costas said. "Focusing funds and energy here will save us from losing children to alcohol and drug addiction, to auto accidents fueled by alcohol, and to the legal system. Our initiative is sustainable. Our results will be measurable. And we hope that our commitment is contagious throughout the entire county."
Costas said he expects the group to meet every two months or quarterly beginning at the end of February. One of its responsibilities will be to decide the best way to spend about $50,000 left from Valparaiso's commitment of $100,000 in county economic development income tax money for the program.
The city spent about $13,500 hiring Porter-Starke Services to teach the Life Skills Program to sixth-graders in both city middle schools this school year. It will be expanded to include the seventh grade in the 2010-11 school year and the eighth grade the following year.
The city also is spending about $30,000 toward the cost of putting a full-time resource officer in the schools beginning in September.
Costas announced the substance abuse initiative in a press conference with Porter County officials in December in response to a countywide substance abuse problem, as indicated by the high number of arrests and drug related deaths.
"It will assess what the city's programs are and what grants and opportunities are out there. It is an advisory group and a committee that is a partnership of many of the key entities involved in this effort."
Members of the task force are:
Garner Tullis, Bethel Valparaiso-All Nation's Church; Rich Schmidt, Living Hope Community Church; Greg Carter, Liberty Bible Church; Dave Bauer, Family Concern Counseling; John Albers, Faith Memorial Lutheran Church; Lynn Bremer, Immanuel Lutheran Church; Jane Scupham, St. Paul Catholic Church; Stacey Schmidt, Chris Fields, Todd Coffin and Jim Sarkisian, of Valparaiso Schools; Councilmen Jan Dick and Art Elwood, Police Chief Michael Brickner, Parks Director John Seibert, Fire Chief David Nondorf, Administrative Assistant Lori Good and City Administrator Bill Oeding representing the city.
Also named were Elliott Miller, Bob Franko and Rocco Schiralli, of Porter-Starke Services; Beth Wrobel, HealthLinc Community Health Center; Nancy VanVolkenburgh, Family and Youth Services Bureau; Paula Dranger, Choices Counseling; Lee Lane and Bill Trowbridge, of the Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce; Times Porter County Editor John Scheibel; Nathan Felton, Valparaiso High School student council; Mike Goin, the Indiana National Guard; Jennifer Wright, Boys and Girls Club of Porter County; Bob Wanek, Valparaiso Family YMCA; Bob Behrend, Valpo Americans; city residents Doug Pierce and Peter Khosla; Brenda Sheetz, Porter County Community Foundation and Laurie Griffith, Porter County United Way.
A representative of St. Paul or St. Theresa Church was yet to be named.
Costas said the group will choose its own chairman.
