The Putnam County Community Foundation released the findings of its 2023 Community Needs Assessment last week, and there was an overwhelming theme that resonated through the communities that make up all four school school districts across the county.
In three of the four areas, addiction and illegal drug use was the top issue reported by the communities.
The communities that make up Cloverdale, North Putnam and South Putnam all overwhelmingly said addiction and illegal drug use was the main issue, while those who make up Greencastle said a lack of affordable and/or diverse housing options and resources was tied with addiction and illegal drug use.
Neysa Meyer, executive director of the Putnam County Community Foundation said a higher response may have come from Greencastle, but noted the foundation did its best to promote the needs assessment all over.
"We did our best to promote the survey in the southern part of the county through partners like Cloverdale Main Street/Cloverdale Farmers Market, First National Bank, Cloverdale Agri Center, South Putnam and Cloverdale schools. We used targeted digital advertising to try to reach residents outside of Greencastle, particularly in Cloverdale," Meyer told The Putnam County Post.
She notes that while the responses from the southern portion of the county may have been low, there are two things to note about the southern communities.
"First, the Cloverdale school district includes parts of northern Owen County, where we don't have any real connection outside of the school. Second, there are very few business or opportunities for partnership in the South Putnam school district. Both of these circumstances likely affected our results," Meyer acknowledged.
In Cloverdale, 52 percent of those who responded said addiction and illegal drug use was the major issue, followed by both inadequate job opportunities to make a living wage and inadequate safe, public spaces for youth outside of school at 34 percent.
Thirty-one percent said a lack of affordable and/or diverse housing options and resources and 27 percent said food insurecity.
Following the 38 percent in Greencastle who cited both a lack of affordable and/or diverse housing options and resources and addiction and illegal drug use as the biggest issue, 33 percent said inadequate mental health treatment options and resources. Thirty-two percent said inadequate job opportunities to make a living wage and 26 percent said inadequate early childhood education and/or child care resources.
In North Putnam, 41 percent said addiction and illegal drug use as the main issue, while 35 percent said inadequate access to broadband internet, and 33 percent said inadequate mental health treatment options and resources. Thirty percent said limited access to healthcare options and 29 percent said inadequate job opportunities to make a living wage.
Over half of those who responded in South Putnam said addiction and illegal drug use, while 35 percent believed inadequate mental health treatment options and resources and 31 percent said limited access to healthcare options.
Twenty-nine percent of respondents said a lack of affordable and/or diverse housing options and resources, and 27 percent said inadequate job opportunities to make a living wage.
According to Meyer, the assessment was conducted with the goal of being able to identify and prioritize needs and assets in Putnam County, unite organizations and resources and create solutions that produce significant and lasting results.
She said the foundation has learned some ways to reach more of the areas outside of Greencastle across the county.
"As we consider how we can correct some of the areas where our efforts feel short in future assessments, we've noted that a targeted mailing and closer partnerships with local governments in outlying communities will likely help increase participation. We can also consider alternative benchmarks for geographic inclusion rather than school districts that might create a more accurate report," Meyer said.
