The Jasper County 4 Kids initiative offers a sustainable solution to the growing crisis of youth mental and behavioral health issues by providing essential funding for services that support vulnerable children and their families. By approving a 1/4-cent sales tax, the community will improve access to vital mental health services, enhance the capacity of local nonprofit organizations who provide vital services to youth and families, and strengthen the overall well-being of our youth.
The scope of the problem includes:
- Unpredictable funding. Many local nonprofits rely on unpredictable funding sources, such as donations, fundraisers, and grants. This unpredictability limits their capacity to provide timely, consistent, high-quality care for youth in need.
- Rising rates of mental health issues. Mental health and behavioral problems among youth in Jasper County are increasing in both severity and frequency. These issues affect children in all family types from all socio-economic levels.
- Barriers to accessing care. Many of the families facing these challenges lack the resources to consistently access appropriate services. Youth from households that struggle with family and housing instability, transportation issues, lack of adequate health care, trauma, neglect, and/or poverty face additional challenges in accessing needed resources.
- Juvenile justice involvement. A significant number of youth with behavioral health disorders are involved with the juvenile justice system, often as a result of delinquency, abuse, neglect, or family mental health issues.
- Strained public schools. Public schools in Jasper County face challenges in addressing students’ acute behavioral and mental health needs while fulfilling their educational goals. Schools often lack the funding to adequately support these students.
The solutions that Jasper County 4 Kids offers include:
- Stable funding source. The 1/4-cent sales tax will provide a sustainable and predictable revenue stream, ensuring that local nonprofits in Jasper County have the resources they need to effectively provide prevention services, support youth in crisis, as well as those facing mental health and socio-economic challenges.
- Targeted support for youth and families. The tax revenue will be allocated directly to local organizations that provide prevention and critical services to Jasper County youth and families in need, including mental health care, substance use treatment, housing support, and other socio-economic services.
- Economic burden on non-residents. The majority of the sales tax burden will be borne by individuals who shop in Jasper County but live outside of it, ensuring that the local community bears only a small portion of the tax while benefiting greatly from the increased services for Jasper County youth.
- Community impact. By funding prevention services and those that address mental health, behavioral health, and socio-economic barriers, the Jasper County 4 Kids initiative will help families and children become healthier, more prosperous, and hopeful about the future. This initiative will create a ripple effect, improving the overall quality of life for everyone in the family.
To learn more about this initiative, download this informational flyer or contact Theresa Wachter, committee member.
Reference:
Theresa Wachter, Committee Member
Jasper County 4 Kids
terrywachter70@gmail.com
Be the first to comment