Fremont County’s Center of Hope Executive Director Ron Woodward spoke Tuesday at the Fremont County Commissioners meeting in Lander.
The Center of Hope operates as an opportunity for patients to detox, usually from alcohol, and usually in periods of either 3 days or 14 days. They also provide transitional living help and group therapy.
He addressed a few different things happening at the center so far in 2018, including merging with Pingora Behavioral Health Clinic, a drug addiction treatment center in Riverton. Both the Center of Hope and Pingora were operated under the same “business umbrella,” but are now merging services and combined are referred to as Riverton Health Care Services. Woodward noted that the merger helped allow them to get a full-time clinician and access to more long-term residential recovery programs.
Woodward said thanks in large part to the merger, their numbers are up about 10% in the first quarter of their fiscal year. He also said that “transitional beds are way up” noting they are, “trying to move people into long-term recovery programs as quickly as possible.”
The facility is usually running at “full capacity” and that their “busy season,” typically during the winter months, has not really begun yet. The Center of Hope has tried several ways to assist those who they cannot take in, that might not have an opportunity to escape the winter elements. Woodward said that community drives help the Center of Hope obtain winter caps, gloves, and coats to hand out. They also provide emergency blankets when available.
Finally, Ron noted to the County Commissioners that a few building upgrades are taking place, including the remodeling of a new lighting system and update to their security system. Woodward said they have reorganized a few things to try to make as much space in the facility for patients as possible.