Mary Kirkendoll will expand her role as community navigator for United Way by partnering with neighboring communities in addition to her work with Eudora residents.
The launch of a pilot program with United Way of Douglas County was announced at Wednesday’s County Commission meeting.
The Community Navigator Project will be funded by Douglas County, and will seek to connect residents with social, human services and health resources.
Kirkendoll, along with Assistant County Administrator Jill Jolicoeur and Director of Behavioral Health Projects Bob Tryanski, spoke about the importance of the program and of peer fellows at the commission meeting.
As community navigator for United Way, Kirkendoll will now operate the program within the Eudora Community Library District.
According to the Community Navigator Program Service Agreement, Kirkendoll will “identify ways to best serve the community by providing resource navigation services in the Eudora library building.”
“What is new this year is the connection to Peer Support,” Kirkendoll, who has already served in a navigator role, said in a message to The Eudora Times after the meeting. “We are working to bring together the work of Peers and Navigators. This is an innovative approach to sustainable resource navigation in the libraries.”
During the commission meeting, Kirkendoll highlighted the importance of this partnership for community members.
“I believe that this work needs to continue happening in Eudora, and I see the library as the perfect place to do that,” Kirkendoll told commissioners.
Kirkendoll will also train librarians in handling community members’ social service needs. Kirkendoll’s position will eventually become full time, and she will serve libraries in Lecompton and Baldwin City.
The Resource Navigation staff at Lawrence Public Library will also work with Kirkendoll to broaden the network of resources available for Douglas County residents.
As community navigator, Kirkendoll will also work as a certified peer support specialist and continue the mission of the Peer Fellows Program.
This program supports those in Douglas County “in crisis and individuals who are simply looking for tools to navigate their recovery in a self-directed way,” according to the service agreement.
Tryanski explained the impact that the Peer Fellows Program can have, and how it can offer opportunities for those in the community.
“People who would like to do peer support work, people who have direct lived experience with substance abuse, addiction, homelessness, have the opportunity to work part time,” Tryanski said. “They serve in a community setting. There are a couple of skill sets that are really essential in order to be effective in a peer support role. One of them is providing support, but another is connecting people with resources.”
Kirkendoll’s position will be allocated $30,000, and $15,000 will be allocated for the individual who works as a peer fellow for United Way. United Way will also fund Kirkendoll with $15,000, and the Eudora Library will give a one-time commitment of $13,000.
The success of the pilot program will be measured in various ways, and the amount of intake forms will be tracked.
These forms note which services were recommended for each particular resident who asks for referrals. Program staff will also be surveyed on their confidence level in being able to provide resources for the community after each training they undergo.
“Measurable projected outcomes include a 20% increase in the number of private and public resources for food, substance use disorder, mental health, housing or workforce development services accessed by program participants in year one of the project, and a 30% increase in year two,” according to an estimate given in the service agreement.
Commissioner Shannon Reid said she was thankful for the work that Kirkendoll has done for the Eudora community thus far, and added she was looking forward to the program.
“I’m really excited to see this, and I’m extremely grateful on behalf of our community for the work that has gone on in these past several months, past year or more, of problem solving and figuring out how we can gradually build a system, like you say, Bob, that is truly communitywide and done with intention,” Reid said.
In other business, the findings of fact regarding a conditional use permit for the Hamm Eudora Quarry was approved.
At a Jan. 12 commission meeting, commissioners approved a proposal to expand the boundaries of the quarry and increase the timeframe in which the quarry will be allowed to operate. In 2038, commissioners would review the quarry’s operations and decide whether or not to extend the conditional use permit.
The quarry plans to expand by 160 acres, and this expansion includes the northeast corner of N. 1200 Road and E. 2300 Road, southwest of where the quarry currently operates.
Findings from the Board of County Commissioners include that the expansion would meet zoning regulations, and negative environmental effects are not anticipated.
Reach reporter Abby Shepherd at [email protected]
