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Pulaski County Human Services, Inc. began as the Pulaski
County Council on Aging in November 1974.
The State of Indiana partnered with the Area Agency on Aging designee,
LCEOC, and held a community meeting of local leaders to establish a
Pulaski County aging service provider. The first Senior Citizen
Nutrition Site was opened in Medaryville, Indiana, and provided a hot
nutritious lunch to about 30 people a day. In March 1975, the local
group formed a board and incorporated as a not for profit 501C3
organization focusing on providing services to the elderly. In
coordination with the then Pulaski County CETA (comprehensive education
and training act) Services, the organization attained employees to work
in the center, staff the office located in Winamac (the county seat),
drive the one minivan, clean homes, deliver hot lunches and link the
elderly with other services to assist in the provision of appropriate
living. Additionally, community assessments were conducted to identify
the needs of the elderly and/or low-income residents of Pulaski County.
Outreach services were a main focus in seeking out the isolated and
hard to reach elderly.
The offices for PCHS were located on the bottom floor
of the Post Office in Winamac after being housed in several churches.
In 1979, a center was added in Winamac and from 1981 to 1994 a center
was operated in Monterey. During these years, community services
expanded to include programs for all ages including Head Start, public
transportation, writing grants for projects like the county YMCA
facility grant, special purpose projects to distribute food, toys and
clothing, operating the food pantry, child care resource and referral,
child care subsidy program and other community development initiative
focusing on minimizing the needs of the elderly and or low-income.
Our facility development has been significant as PCHS
in partnership with the town of Winamac and KIRPC and generated 1 million
dollars in facility renovation dollars to our county.
The retention of and renovation of an historic downtown business to our
multi-purpose facility housing Head Start, Preschool, Special needs
preschool, Senior Center, Case Management office, Public Transit, Child
care subsidy, Information and Referral, Outreach offices and the county
food pantry offers us one stop access for our customers. In 2005, we
established a new facility in Medaryville to insure service
availability to the West Side of our county. PCHS has brought over 15
million dollars in services and employment compensation to Pulaski
County. We have provided training and job opportunities to
approximately 150 individuals. At one time, PCHS employed 24 persons.
As a result of funding changes and program management reorganization,
we now employ 14 full or part-time employees. The reduction in staff
created many volunteer opportunities and the residents of Pulaski
County have taken the challenge and provided the needed support to
continue our efforts in the community.
Although we have experienced many changes, PCHS continues
to focus on our motto, "people helping people" and seeks out ongoing community
support as we look to the future and the continuum of elderly services and the
community services.
As the boomers become aged, our services will continue to grow in the
area of homemaking and meal provision. Public transportation has become
an expected and needed service in providing access to our rural
residents growing form one mini-van to a fleet of 6 buses,3 wheel chair
lift vehicles, a mini-van and 2 other vans. Our subsidy program to help
families with childcare has expanded from one to two to three and now
four counties. As we plan our path and explore opportunities for
funding and support we will focus on the business we are
in..................the people company.
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