MANSFIELD — Two brand-new facilities in Mansfield will bring individuals struggling with addition one step closer to recovery.
The Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board broke ground on a new detox center and new residential facility for people seeking addiction treatment on Monday afternoon. The buildings will be constructed on Scholl Road, on property owned by Catalyst Life Services, next to the current New Beginnings facility.
“It’s so important to help with this issue, because there are so many people that need it so, so badly,” said Veronica Groff, president and CEO of Catalyst Life Services.
Joe Trolian, executive director or the Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, explained the new project will bring two ideas together, essentially adding 16 beds for withdrawal management and 16 beds for residential treatment.
“We wanted to be able to expand our ability to do residential treatment, we wanted to do a second New Beginnings to bring gender-specific services, and it would double our capacity to do residential treatment,” Trolian said.
Trolian noted local officials including the hospital and police department have worked for two years to bring withdrawal management back to Richland County. The last facility that was available to provide withdrawal management was Freedom Hall in Crestline, which closed in 2004.
Trolian noted the project has gone through at least six iterations, and withstood many roadblocks including finding the perfect location.
“That’s exactly what happens to the families when they think their people are going to get help – they get excited, the heart pumps, and then the rug is pulled out,” said Kym Lamb, chair of the Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board. “What this will do for us is put the rug under them.”
The project is being collaboratively funded by a State of Ohio Capital matching grant through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The local match is being collaboratively funded by the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, Richland County Foundation, the S.N. and Ada Ford Foundation and OhioHealth.
“This is the ideal project for a community foundation, being able to pull in a lot of different service agencies and a lot of different funders,” said Brady Groves, president of the Richland County Foundation. “We’re here to celebrate the culmination of a lot of good things coming together.”
The treatment programming will be provided by Catalyst Life Services with medical services provided under subcontract with Third Street Family Health Services.
“Offering help to individuals is a big deal, and something we strive for in Richland County,” said Commissioner Marilyn John. “If we have any hope of overcoming this addition crisis, it’s only going to be through partnering together, because together we are so much stronger.”
For more information contact The Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board at 419-774-5811 or rchmb@rcmhb.org.
