Pictured, from left, are Kosciusko County Board of Health Members Dr. David Hoffert and Dr. Gregory Haase, DO; and Board Chairman Dr. Dennis Woodward, DVM. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Adkins.

By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – The Kosciusko County Board of Health unanimously voted to disband the Health First Kosciusko Advisory Committee during a board meeting on Monday, Nov. 3.

Dr. Dennis Woodward, DVM, board chairman, said the committee “won’t have anything to do because we don’t really have any money to decide on,” as most of HFK’s funds for 2026 projects have already been spoken for.

“At this point though, there’s probably not going to be a big need for us to meet on any sort of regular basis as a committee,” said Woodward. “So, we’re thinking … we keep the committee people available, but just on an as-needed basis. We would call a meeting and discuss what needs to be discussed … but we would do it as an ad hoc committee, not under the auspices of the health department … there aren’t going to be big dollars we’re talking about or major things.”

Woodward said the committee would disband as a Board of Health entity and HFK Coordinator Liz McCullough would be allowed to meet with the people she needs to as necessary.

MOUs For Projects

In other business, the board accepted multiple memorandums of understanding for health-related projects within Kosciusko County for 2026. McCullough presented the requests to the committee. Live Well Kosciusko made two separate requests, with one being $10,000 toward a mobile mammography program and another being for $95,000 in order for LWK to continue its partnership with HFK.

An $82,000 request for Warsaw Community Schools’ school health liaison program was also approved. McCullough said Lauri Westerhof, the liaison, received five letters of support for the position continuing into 2026.

The board also accepted a $60,596 request from the Northern Indiana Maternal and Child Health Network “to continue its progress with community outreach on sexually transmitted infections in Kosciusko County.” NIMCHN focuses on expanding STI screening and treatment, education, and assisting and providing efforts to decrease the infant mortality rate. This will also include care packages for at-risk populations.

Two MOUs for 2025 projects were accepted as well. Magical Meadows requested reimbursement for the purchase of an automated external defibrillator in the amount of $2,475.

Fellowship Missions requested $15,000 to hire an on-site nurse practitioner at its facility. McCullough said the organization had previously requested $75,000, but that the HFK Advisory Committee offered them $15,000 due to budget cuts. The practitioner would “provide services to address health concerns early, reduce ER visits, and reduce the stigma of seeking care.”

In their request, Fellowship Missions noted from 2023 to 2024, there had been a 91% increase in medical runs at the facility.

Lindsey Miller with Fellowship Missions said the funding would be used “more as a jumpstart” to help get the program going.

“We get lots of funding through generous individuals, corporations, churches, and also private foundation grants as well,” said Miller.

The board also:

• Approved its 2026 meeting dates, with the board meeting quarterly on Jan. 26, April 20, July 13, and Oct. 26, 2026.
• Heard Larry Coplen and Dr. Gregory Haase, DO, will continue serving on the Board of Health when it was noted their terms would soon expire.