The Valparaiso City Council cleared the path with a unanimous vote to direct a request for $23,248 for approval by the Valparaiso Board of Works allowing Kristi Chervanek, recovery connection coordinator with Porter County PACT, to proceed with a new marketing and outreach campaign in 2025 which includes a redesigned website.
Chervanek addressed the council at the Dec. 9 meeting with details about the marketing plan and the envisioned website.
“I’ve provided each of you with our proposed new marketing campaign packets,” Chervanek said.
“After reaching out to three marketing firms and meeting with two of them, we opted to work with JWM Marketing, and they’ve created an amazing plan for us including a complete website new design with our emphasis on recovery connection.”
Council Member Barb Domer, D-3rd, directed a discussion with the council about whether funds received earlier this year and last year from the opioid statewide settlement could be used to cover the marketing cost.
“I know we have the opportunity for matching state grants, but since we have significant money still in our opioid funds, why not just go there for this needed money?” Domer said.
“The key to this success is continuing to let people know this support is out there.”
Chervanek explained the agency provides recovery coaches while working with the courts to provide support to those in treatment programs while emphasizing what she described as “a definite gap in the community getting individuals into treatment.”
PACT agency was founded in 1977 as one of seven federally-sponsored community service restitution pilot programs around the country and now provides divisions such as a Day Reporting Center, Porter County Alcohol and Drug Offender Services, Porter County’s Adult Drug Court, a Victim Impact Panel and electronic monitoring services as well as recovery connection programs.
Valparaiso City Attorney Patrick Lyp answered Domer’s question by reminding the council since the opioid funds became available in 2023, there have also been state grants available, resulting in the near total financial obligation for the programs all paid in full through provided funding through mid-2025, as opposed to using the opioid fund account.
“It is my recommendation tonight to the council since there is already an existing agreement with PACT, then my thought is an amendment to that agreement for reimbursement for the costs for the web page cost,” Lyp said.
“We then send this on to the Board of Works for approval as well, and the possibility of the state’s further funding.”
Chervanek said in 2024, she and her department have served 75 individuals, 40 who moved on to treatment referrals. She also conducted 24 family support group events.
Mayor Jon Costas asked which percent of those treated in the past year were addicted to alcohol in contrast to other drugs.
“It’s almost a 50-50 ratio with the understanding that many of the clients with drug addiction will also often have alcohol concerns as well,” Chervanek said.
“I did lose one client this year, which has been very hard.”
Domer explained the measure of the success of programs “is in the metrics.”
“Moving forward, we have to keep monitoring how many people have been reached,” Domer said.
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
