Bartholomew County is applying for a $200,000 federal grant to offer wellness help for police and other initial responders, as properly as their households.

The Bartholomew County Commissioners have agreed to permit the sheriff’s workplace to apply for a Law Enforcement Mental Well being and Wellness grant out there via the COPS system inside the U.S. Division of Justice.

If authorized, federal funds will be employed to strengthen the delivery of and access to mental well being and wellness solutions for law enforcement. This is performed via peer help, coaching, family members sources, suicide prevention, and other practices for wellness applications, according to the program’s site.

Made by a Congressional Act passed in 2019, this system would fund projects that create know-how, boost awareness of successful mental well being and wellness approaches, and enhanced the expertise and skills of law enforcement, the site states.

If the complete grant getting requested is awarded, adequate funding would be out there to enable 300 men and women, Bartholomew County Jail Matron Bobbie Shake mentioned. Shake worked as a grant administrator in the county auditor’s workplace just before moving to the job at the county jail.

“(300 spots) would cover the sheriff’s division, the Columbus Fire Division and most of the other fire departments,” Shake mentioned. “But priority will be provided to law enforcement.”

Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz mentioned he desires the service also offered to law enforcement in smaller sized communities inside the county.

With just about every person who is covered, their family members members are covered as properly, Shake mentioned. As an instance, she mentioned a spouse could use the service to find out at no expense about the indicators and symptoms of mental well being and wellness for law enforcement officers.

1 higher-tech aspect of the system is a cell telephone app named Cordico which offers confidential, 24/7 proactive and preventive wellness help.

Lots of police agencies have specialized groups of peer volunteers educated to offer help to officers soon after risky and stressful calls. Peer group members offer important incident debriefings, address family members wants, notify family members members of employee deaths, and offer help for the duration of and soon after stressful events/

Now that elected county officials have authorized the application, Shake will want to submit initial budgetary types no later than April 14, and the whole application no later than April 21. It is anticipated that awards will be announced on or soon after Oct. 1.