People wanting to know local resources available or COVID-19 information in Marshall County will soon have that information available in an app accessible on a mobile device.
Marshall County is eligible to apply for a grant in the amount of $103,662.50 through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute for COVID-19 expenses and the app is on the request list for funding.
Marshall County Community Corrections Director Ward Byers told the Marshall County Commissioners on Monday that he and Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery recently discussed the development of an app with the Marshall County Health Department.
Byers stated, “The community resource app would have immediate COVID information from the Health Department and EMA. It will also have the ability for the Health Department to have up-to-date information on testing sites, location of the mobile medical unit when that is up and running, and updated information on immunizations – not only in the office but throughout the county.”
Byers said the app would also provide push notifications for emergencies from the Emergency Management Agency, highway road and bridge information, and information on substance abuse, mental health and suicide prevention.
Byers continued, “In addition, we worked with the United Way of Marshall County and they would have a button that would take you directly to search a plethora of resources available in Marshall County – clothing, disaster services, education, employment, income support, mental health, substance abuse, utility assistance – just another mechanism to drive the public to that site to seek the information that they need.”
Avery noted that the app would meet one of the corrective actions in COVID-19 improvement plan with providing immediate information on the health pandemic and other resources in the county. It can also aid emergency responders to give resource information to victims in disaster situations.
The grant would cover the cost of development of the app and the first-year maintenance cost in the amount of $41,268.50.
Byers initially included technology needs in the grant in the event that court staff and probation department employees would need to work remotely, but the commissioners asked that other needs for criminal justice be sought after as the council has denied all take home laptops and related equipment for cybersecurity purposes. Byers said he would work with Avery to determine other needs for the criminal justice offices.
The commissioners approved the grant funding request. The grant will be submitted Monday, November 9.
Photo provided by Ward Byers
