Van Buren Doing 5-Year Deal For New Service

A newly-launched mental health program for Van Buren County students will get at least a five-year lifespan from County Commissioners.

The agreement with Care Solace would provide mental health services for the school system. Financial Director Heather Woodlee said the money for the program would come from the $28,000 in opioid funding that the county has to allocate by February.

“My question was, because this money has to be spent a certain way, they’re already want to do five years, why not just pay the full five years?” Woodlee said. “And that will take care of $22,011 of that $28,000.”

Woodlee said the new agreement would be a five-year plan instead of an annual plan the commission has to renew. Woodlee said the new cost of the program will not change even if the student population grows over the next five years.

“They were going to do a contract,” Woodlee said. “(Copeland) said if everybody was in agreement he would do a new contract with the total of five years with that amount.”

Woodlee said the program costs some $5,500 for the first year. Woodlee said the program charges based on fiscal years, so it will cost some $8,200 for the years of 2025-26 and 2026-27.

Commission Chair Cale Crain said the extension was requested by Director of Schools Jared Copeland. Commissioner Tabitha Denney said she is concerned about paying for more of the program before the school district has had much experience with it.

“I know that in the budget meeting it was kind of a trial thing,” Denney said. “Where they wanted to see how it progressed.”

The commission approved a motion giving Copeland permission to create a new contract for later approval by the commission.