As a response to the 2023 Putnam County Community Needs Assessment, the Putnam County Community Foundation (PCCF) established a mental health and substance use initiative to increase mental health advocacy and improve outcomes related to substance use. Goals for the initiative include bolstering existing community assets, engaging cross-sector partners, and investing in collaborative solutions.
“This initiative reflects our strategic vision—leading with purpose, investing for lasting change, and operating with integrity to improve the quality of life for all our residents,” explains Kyle Beasley, PCCF Board President. “By bringing together community partners and resources to address critical behavioral health challenges, we are not only responding to urgent needs but also building a stronger, more resilient Putnam County.”
On July 1, 2024, PCCF released a Request for Information (RFI) in order to gather input from organizations working in this area of expertise and ensuring that the community resources align with the area of greatest need. The RFI was sent out to nonprofits, healthcare providers, academic institutions, and community groups. This resulted in 19 responses which were later reviewed by a task force of community volunteers.
The task force identified gaps in crisis intervention services and the need for stronger collaboration among organizations. With the aim of expanding mental health services, PCCF awarded $180,500 in grants in March 2025 to support mental health services, recruiting new providers, improving case management accessibility, and enhancing local recovery programs.
From the information gathered, PCCF organized a group of roughly 40 stakeholders in November 2024 to facilitate a conversation among community members. This conversation was initially led by CivicLab, a nonprofit organization based out of Columbus, IN, and focused on strengthening relationships, identifying challenges, and co-creating solutions.
Since the first session in November 2024, CivicLab facilitated two additional sessions to help small groups identify guiding questions, identify the relationships that affect the guiding question, understand how the relationships currently work, co-create new ways of working together, and redesign the work by rewiring relationships. These conversations guided groups of stakeholders to focus on the following areas: access to care, provider pipeline, basic needs, and advocacy.
“We’re incredibly inspired by the momentum building around this initiative. Bringing together so many passionate and dedicated partners has laid the groundwork for lasting change in our community,” states Neysa Meyer, Executive Director of PCCF. “As we look ahead, I’m excited about the innovative ideas emerging, the new relationships being formed, and the real impact we’re beginning to see. This is just the beginning of something truly transformative for Putnam County.”
As the mental health and substance use initiative continues to evolve, participating stakeholders are taking critical steps to turn ideas into action. In the coming months, focus area groups will begin implementing strategies focused on improving access to care, strengthening the provider pipeline, meeting basic needs, and advancing local advocacy efforts. PCCF will also continue to further partnerships, monitor progress, and invest in long-term solutions that drive measurable outcomes.
This initiative is not just about addressing today’s challenges—it’s about building a sustainable system of care for the future. Together, we are transforming momentum into meaningful change for every resident of Putnam County.