By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Kosciusko Cares has been around for years, but has run into difficulties in its efforts in recent years to serve young people after some parents began to express concerns with the use of surveys that many groups rely on.
Particularly, the use of the Indiana Youth Survey across the state has come under fire for some of the questions posed to youth.
Criticism is fueled by parental concerns over privacy and a reluctance by some to expose their children to the topics of alcohol or substance abuse.
Melanie Wilhite, executive director for Kosciusko Cares, said surveys have just “taken a bad rap” in recent years.
Area public schools no longer allow it to be part of the programming.
“We used to be able to do the Indiana Youth Survey in all schools, and be able to measure and know what we needed to work on,” Wilhite said. “But we’ve had angry parents who didn’t like a lot of those questions on the survveys so they have pulled back, and now we have all of Kosiusko County who will not let us take a survey,” Wilhite said.
As a result, they’re making the surveys available through community events and publicity, said Renea Salyer, who serves as the Program Direcgor for Drug Free Coalition with Kosciusko Cares.
“It’s been a struggle because we can’t get the survey into the schools, and that’s where the youth are,” Salyer said.
Wilhite said the surveys are needed to spot trends and receive grant money.
The organization has a variety of programs aimed at preparing young minds with the skills they need to make good decisions and avoid drugs and alcohol.
Some of the programming is aimed at youngsters in pre-k.
“The main thing that we’d like to get across is that we need to start with the littles first,” Wilhite said. “We’ve found out that the younger we can start, the more coping skills they have, and they’re able to make good decisions,” Wilhite said.
Wilhite and Salyer were guests on In The Know, the public affairs show you can hear this weekend on Kensington Digital Media radio stations.
They discussed various programs they oversee and explained why the group is now independent of Bowen Health.
Koscciusko Cares is now a nonprofit that continues doing business under the same name.
You can learn more about Kosciusko Cares and how students can participate in the survey at their website, as well as other updated information at their Facebook page.
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In The Know can be heard at the following times:
News Now Warsaw (99.7 FM and 1480 AM):
Fridays at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Saturdays at 7 a.m.
Sundays at 7 a.m. & 2 p.m.
WRSW (107.3):
Sundays at 6 a.m.
Willie (103.5 FM):
Sundays at 6 a.m.
