Partners for a Drug Free Carroll County, formerly known as the group Don’t Underestimate Carroll County (DUCC), works behind the scenes in Carroll County to prevent, treat and enforce substance abuse.

The group was founded in 1990 and the coalition serves as the Local Coordinating Council (LCC) in the county for the Governor’s Commission for a Drug-Free Indiana.

State Community Consultant Jane Haddock is the liaison between the county group and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) which sponsors the governor’s group. She also monitors grants for the program.

“Carroll County is on the brink of having an effective program.” Haddock sated. “Members of the program want to raise public awareness and encourage the community and schools to become more involved.”

A community plan, which is approved by the coordinating committee, directs local programs for three years. It includes existing services and networks to address county substance abuse problems, goals met by the each funded program and future goals. The most recent plan for each county can be found on the ICJI Web site, at www.in.gov/icj.

Carroll Junior-Senior High School assistant principal Fred Schnarr is the Carroll County chair.

“I take data about substance abuse from groups involved in this program to form our goals for the upcoming years.” Schnarr stated. “There are still goals we have not reached but continue working toward.”

Schnarr said prevention through workshops and education in schools, treatment through counseling and law enforcement is an effective “threepronged approach” used by the county program.

“The benefit from this program is that the three entities meet and discuss the happenings in their department so they can benefit from each other.” Schnarr said.

Schnarr said funds for sponsored programs come from court fines paid by convicted substance abusers. Fines collected in Carroll County stay in the county.

Haddock reported the program received over $16,600 in 2009 and has received over $164,000 in the past eight years.

Schnarr reported that an even amount granted to each of the three components of the program is attempted when requests are considered.

Grants are only given to the local program members and must follow guidelines. The fund in the approved 2010 budget is $18,736.25. Treatment will receive $5,000, Education/Prevention $8,340 and Law Enforcement will receive approximately $5,398. Carroll and Delphi Schools, Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, Flora Police Department and Wabash Valley Hospital are grant recipients this year.

The local group meets six times a year. The next meeting will be Sept. 15 at 12 p.m. at Solomon’s Grill in Delphi.