Ripley County Secures Juvenile Behavioral Health Treatment Grant

The funding will allow the Ripley County Youth and Family SMART Program to provide several services.

(Versailles, Ind.) – Ripley County Court Services has received a generous grant as part of the recently passed Youth Justice Oversight funding legislation.

Over $267,000 was awarded to cover a two-year period, which will allow the Ripley County Youth and Family SMART Program to provide several services, such as mental health and substance abuse evaluations, individual counseling, group therapy, a juvenile support group, a parent support group, and family-centered therapy.

Court Services put together an extensive grant application and submitted it to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute under the Juvenile Behavioral Health Competitive Grant Pilot Program.

The Juvenile Behavioral Health Competitive Grant Pilot Program was established to support jurisdictions, particularly in rural areas, in addressing juvenile’s behavior health needs with the goal of helping justice system involved juveniles secure better outcomes. The Behavioral Health Grants are competitive and currently only for pilot programs.

Circuit Court Judge, Ryan J. King, who on October 17th was appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court to the state-level Youth Justice Oversight Committee, expressed his appreciation for the over $267,000 granted to Ripley County. “This funding will make our already highly successful juvenile SMART Program even better”. King continued, “Our being chosen for this competitive grant is a testament to Ripley County’s strong track record of collaboration, where and when appropriate.”

Prosecuting Attorney Ric Hertel added, “the Prosecutor’s Office is committed to working with probation and the Courts to reduce and treat juvenile contacts with the juvenile justice system. This funding will aid and assist the already existing programs created and currently used in Ripley County.”

Superior Court Judge Jeffrey L. Sharp joined Judge King in commending the hard work of Director Shannon G. Schmaltz and his Court Services team. Both Judges agreed that they believe Ripley County secured this funding because of local community leader’s willingness to work together in order the benefit the community as a whole. The judges made it a point to highlight the support of Choices Emergency Response Team (CERT) for agreeing to provide juvenile therapy and treatment services, as well as for the ongoing support from the Prosecutor’s Office for this endeavor.