Central Kansas Community Corrections has received $490,639 in funding through the Bureau of Justice Assistance Grant, Improving Reentry for Adults with Substance Use Disorders Program. The purpose of the program is to enhance CKCC’s ability to address the substance use treatment for of offenders to reduce recidivism and promote recovery, and to improve public safety and public health, said CKCC Director Amy Boxberger.

“I am excited to be here this morning,” she said. The three-year grant will fund a a new program at CKCC, which covers the entire 20th Judicial District, including Barton, Ellsworth, Rice, Russell and Stafford Counties.

“We are calling this the Solidarity Program,” she said. It will also complement existing efforts to help those with substance abuse and mental health issues.

It will also include a cell phone app that will allow CKCC clients to log success and plan objectives. They will become eligible for rewards and incentives.

Furthermore, she said this dovetails into the grant to bolster telemedicine efforts. Barton, Ellsworth, Rice and Stafford counties were awarded $781,126.96 from the USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program.

Following the approval of the CKCC grant, the commission also had to approve a revised budget for the agency that included changes to both personnel and operating costs because of the grant.

Boxberger said her office will now be able to dedicate two of its officers to oversee this new initiative. It will also allow for cost-of-living raises for her staff and the hiring of a fourth officer to lessen individual case loads.