By Caleigh Byrer
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The Kosciusko Coalition On Drug Education heard from its new partner, Project.ME, at its Tuesday, Feb. 28, meeting.

Project.ME Executive Director Aisha Diss attended the meeting to hear more about what actions Kosciusko County officials are taking in regard to supporting those in recovery or in need of recovery.

In January, Project.ME was brought on by the Indiana Recovery Network for the Regional Recovery Hub project in Allen, Kosciusko and Whitley Counties.

Project.ME is a peer support and harm reduction organization that originated in Allen County.

“We’re a no barrier peer support organization, meaning that all someone would have to do in order to get support from us is just reach out. We don’t bill insurance, we don’t charge, literally all they have to do is reach out and ask for support,” Diss said. “We support those that are 14 years old and older who have substance abuse disorder, use drugs or are in recovery.”

“We also provide peer recovery coaching, we do that through certified addiction peer recovery coaches; people who have the experience not only with substances but lived experience in recovery.”

As Project.ME is just beginning to get established in Kosciusko County, peer recovery coaching may take place like Telehealth, or however is necessary based on the individual.

Diss expressed her excitement to continue serving those in need of support through the expansion into Kosciusko County.

Other notable discussion points during the meeting were:

• Exodus Ministries is working to create a facility for pregnant women struggling with drug use to offer them housing, resources for recovery and a connection to prenatal care.
• Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory expects to receive 350 doses of Narcan to distribute to other public service departments; they also plan to use an opioid matching grant to fund a new position for a staff member that is to focus heavily on substance use.
• Eight women have been accepted into the J-CAP program.
• Vape ticket cases are now being sent to Teen Court.
• There were 95 dispatch calls for Warsaw Schools this month, which the Warsaw Police Department hopes to see a decline in.
• There will be a pancake breakfast from 7-10 a.m. Thursday, March 9, at the Winona Lake Senior Center.