The Porter County Health Department is undergoing significant renovations aimed at expanding its facilities and services to better meet the needs of the community.
Backed by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), this project is a key investment in public health after the COVID-19 pandemic, helping the department upgrade its space and expand its services.
“In light of the governor's Public Health Commission and Health First Indiana initiative, improving our spaces is just what we need,” said Carrie Gschwind, administrator Porter County Health Department.
According to Gschwind, the Health Department will remain in its current location within the county building but will now utilize additional rooms that were previously occupied by other agencies.
“The beautiful part is that we were able to expand into spaces that had been occupied by other departments and were being used for storage ahead of the renovation,” said Gschwind. “It’s already been wonderful to have that space. This renovation will allow us to have areas where residents can come in, wait comfortably, and have private conversations with our staff.”
These new spaces will allow for improved staff accommodations and more private consultation areas necessary for critical and confidential services like sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV testing, chronic disease prevention, consultations for care referral, and immunizations.
“Before gaining additional space, we were looking for places to talk privately in the hallway or at the counter,” said Gschwind. “These aren't quick conversations, and the renovation work has allowed us to have an area solely for this.”
With a continued focus on access, the renovation project is being carried out in phases, with each phase focusing on different aspects of the department’s services.
Phase 1 will address the spaces previously used by elections and registration, and will provide updated and expanded spaces for the coroner and veterans' services. Phase 2, set to begin on October 28, will focus on the nursing and vital records section of the Health Department, with an anticipated completion in February 2024.
Following that, renovations will move to the food and environmental services division, with the entire project expected to be completed by June 2025.
These phased renovations aim to minimize disruptions to the department’s daily operations while ensuring the facility is modernized and equipped to serve the growing needs of the Porter County community.
"We're not just renovating a building – we're creating a space that allows us to better serve our community," Gschwind said. "We want to ensure that every person who comes through our doors feels supported and has access to the resources they need."
Beyond the physical renovations, the Health Department is continuing to expand its reach through partnerships with local organizations like Powers Health and Northwest Health.
"Our goal is always to ensure that patient interactions are private and comfortable," Gschwind said.
These partnerships allow for a broader range of services, such as referrals to clinical care, transportation assistance, and chronic disease management.
Two essential partnerships are between the Porter County Health Department, Northwest Health - Porter, and local school systems through the county's school liaison-health educator.
“We have multiple partnerships, and it's important to not leave anyone out,” said Gschwind. “We have worked with the schools on the nursing side ever since COVID. Through our school liaison-health educator position, we will expand these relationships by providing support to administrators, teachers, and other staff. We also have partnered with Northwest Health - Porter to ensure easy screening services for Porter County citizens.”
To learn more about the Porter County Health Department, please visit its Facebook page or porterco.org.
