ASAP moves forward with Hub

All approvals have been completed for a new centralized location where people seeking addiction treatment can find help.

Bartholomew County and Columbus officials have agreed to split the cost of the the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress’ Hub, commissioner Carl Lienhoop said.  

Besides the Hub, additional funding will also allow the transformation of the alliance, known as ASAP, from a government/health care alliance into an ongoing 501(C)(3) nonprofit corporation.

May 1 has been mentioned as a possible date for the Hub to open in the former United Way office in the Doug Otto Center, 1531 13th St., Columbus. If that is not possible, ASAP is hoping to have the facility open by June.  

During last fall’s budget hearings, the Columbus City Council and Bartholomew County Council set aside funds for the Hub and transforming ASAP into a nonprofit, ASAP advisor Mary Ferdon said. Ferdon is the Columbus executive director of administration and community development.

State regulations require the commissioners and the Columbus Board of Works to authorize all contracts and agreements, such as the ASAP Hub agreement between the city and county.     

Described as one of 10 critical elements in Bartholomew County’s substance abuse support system, the Hub has been strongly advocated since the inception of the alliance in April 2017.   

Besides providing resources that include referrals to existing programs, the Hub will also assist individuals in navigating the health care and insurance systems to provide addiction recovery. When necessary, resources may be provided that include the basics of helping the individual in recovery obtain food, housing and transportation. 

The cost for the Hub and the ASAP transformation, which are being funded 50/50 by both city and county government, totals $502,925, Lienhoop said. About $4,000 of that money is to pay for expenses already incurred last year, the commissioner said. 

About $216,000 would be spent to hire a recovery specialist for the Hub, as well as a general manager and volunteer services manager. The request calls for $165,375 to be spent for new ASAP staff, including an executive director, an operations manager and a communications specialist.

About 76 percent of the money will be spent on staff, while the remaining 24 percent will go toward operational costs, ASAP acting executive director Jeff Jones told city and county officials in earlier meetings.