2025-2026 Research-to-Action Summary

An Annual Process to Address and Correct Systemic Injustice in our Community

On May 11, 2026, Congregations Acting for Justice and Empowerment (CAJE) held its annual Nehemiah Action in the auditorium of Harrison High School In Evansville. The event culminated CAJE’s research to action process that began in late summer of 2025. This post describes that process and its outcome.

Listening

During September and October, CAJE’s 26 member congregations conducted listening sessions that engaged hundreds of neighbors, friends, family members, and fellow congregants, sharing what they worry about and concerns over what they see in our community. Housing, mental health, and substance abuse issues were among the most prevalent concerns discussed.

CAJE’s organizers compiled the findings from these sessions and presented them at the Community Problems Assembly in November. CAJE congregations voted to make mental health the focus of this year’s research-to-action process, with a view to address the problem across Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Posey Counties.

Research

From January through April, CAJE’s research committee interviewed mental health service providers and elected officials to identify mental health needs and possible solutions. The committee met with United Caring Service (UCS), Southwestern Behavioral Health, and BRIDGE (Building Respect and Integrity in Greater Evansville). From UCS, the committee learned about its great need for additional case management services to help residents find a path to stability and connections to community resources for significant mental- and physical-health needs. From the Vanderburgh County Sheriff, the committee learned about the potential impact of Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 285, effective 7-1-26, which criminalizes unauthorized sleeping, camping, or sheltering on public property. We learned that SEA 285 does permit law enforcement officers to take people to diversion centers as an alternative to incarceration. UCS operates a diversion center within its programs, a result of funding CAJE won in prior years.

After learning about these issues and needs, the committee recommended that Vanderburgh and Warrick County Commissioners should be approached about providing $50,000 each to support additional case management services at UCS. The committee met with Vanderburgh County Commissioners Amy Canterbury and Mike Goebel to ask for their support in requesting $50,000 in county funding for UCS. The committee also met with the Administrator for the Warrick County Commissioners with the same request.

Action

At the CAJE Nehemiah Action in May, Vanderburgh County Commissioners Canterbury and Goebel agreed to support the appropriation of the funds for UCS. They subsequently secured the support of the third Commissioner, Justin Elpers, and unanimously moved CAJE’s request to the Vanderburgh County Council for their consideration.

Council President John Montraselle met with the CAJE steering committee to better understand the $50,000 request. After learning of the issue and the CAJE-recommended solution, President Montraselle thanked CAJE for bringing this need to the County Council. On June 3, CAJE members brought people power to the County Council’s chambers in a highly visible show of support for the funding. The Vanderburgh County Council voted unanimously to approve the CAJE request. The $50,000 in funding was immediately released to UCS as a one-time grant from the County’s Opioid Settlement Fund.