Waapi Kani Mental Wellness & Recovery Services hosts grand opening for newly remodeled building
The newly remodeled THHS Waapi Kani Mental Wellness & Recovery Services office building exterior, with attendees gathered outside for the grand opening event on January 10.
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Waapi Kani (Cedar House) Mental Wellness and Recovery Services staff hosted a grand opening January 10 of the newly remodeled building.
The former Four Directions Treatment Center building now houses 17 office spaces for clinical services. In addition, substance abuse disorder counselor’s that are certified addiction counselors, mental health counselors along with the psychiatry team are located in the building. A conference room/break room was added said Jason Butler, Behavioral Health manager, whose office is also in the building.
He said comprehensive mental health and substance abuse services from top to bottom are available. Certified addiction counselors are on staff and a peer support program. They also have a medical assisted treatment program (MAP) for opioid use disorder. Regarding mental health, they have medical social worker, benefits coordinators, case managers, along with counselors and psychiatry.
Butler explained next door in the old Four Directions office building houses all of their case management services and medical assisted treatment. Peer support is located across campus in building 97. However, he’s working on getting a building put behind the remodeled one for that program to be located.
THHS Behavioral Health manager Jason Butler speaks about the new office
space.
He said they’ve created a program designed specifically for all tribal members taking some of the evidence based practices and combine with cultural practices and language. “We’ve done that by developing new groups — restructuring some of the positions that we have to make them specific to cultural based care and that makes it a lot easier for individuals coming in seeking service.” At times people may have an idea of what mental health services or what substance use services are you know based on western ideology, he continued, “whereas what we’re trying to do is create something that is specific to this place and that people and community members can feel comfortable about coming in and feel like their needs are being met.” They understand the care that they’re getting and they can trust the community — that’s what we’re trying to do, Butler said.
Having all the services under one roof helps clients from falling through the cracks — restructuring the way they do the intake process, assessments, “So now when you walk through these doors what you’re getting is a comprehensive behavioral health assessment so that the individual that’s doing your assessment is able to do a dual diagnosis and diagnose your mental health and substance use at the same time, so not only did we eliminate the need for that referral process and losing people within that frame of time but we’ve also made it easier for people community members to come in and get that service because now they’re able to come in and in one appointment get all of their stuff done.”
He said there are no plans to build an inpatient treatment center as they send people out for treatment. “And that works, in a sense, a little bit better than it did when it was here, because we are able to send more people out. I’d have to get those numbers for you, but I know that we are sending more people out to treatment now than they ever saw when this was open as an inpatient facility.” It allows them to get out of the existing environment, “because what we see a lot of times, too, is when people stay here, it’s very easy for them to kind of fall back into those patterns of behavior that got them into the situation in the first place. It allows them to kind of expand on their horizons and getting out of the area, seek treatment, and then come back once they’ve completed.” Butler added, it also allows them more opportunities for treatment.
THHS staff member Annie Bacon and Language & Culture Preservation archivist
Velda Racehorse at the grand opening.
Lemuel Stone, a senior counselor in substance abuse, said he first started in 2007 doing an internship then got certified in 2010 and started his career working in inpatient treatment in the same building before it was remodeled. He did that for upwards of seven years when he transferred over to outpatient treatment in 2017 because the building closed down. He does assessments, case management, group treatment, individual sessions plus he does cultural stuff. Jason created a cultural CADC a new position doing cultural based treatment. “A lot of my philosophies are all Native based (treatment) backed by Native culture and spirituality practices.” He said it’s a really nice building, he enjoys working in it, “the services we offer – the integration has gone pretty smooth I guess and I like it because this side is substance abuse and the other side is mental health. We are a little bit separated but all under the same roof which is nice for the clients – used to have to separate it and losing our clients in the process.”
The Waapi Kani front reception desk at the new building.
Juan Lucero, clinical supervisor for substance abuse unit, said the new building is wonderful, he enjoys the lighting system one can adjust it just right, for those with ADHD (neurodivergent) it can be overwhelming so it’s nice to turn down the lights. The other thing is the sound, “we can be louder in these offices without worrying about people hearing it for the privacy of our clients – it’s hard to open up to strangers, if you’re somewhere where you’re worried about someone eavesdropping it’s even harder,” he said. “It feels safer and confidential.” He’s been with the program for a number of years, left to work in town and returned in 2023. He said the people bring him back, it’s part of his calling — a 500-year battle, a lot of substances lead to addiction, opiates, meth, alcohol is everywhere, people get physically dependent on alcohol easily.
Community members were treated to snacks at the grand opening.
Regarding the project cost, Kimberly Dixey, Construction Services manager, said the budget provided was $2.046 million for renovation and paved parking area. They are still closing the project so final cost is not yet known.
The project started in the spring of 2022 with demolition in fall of that year. Myers Anderson Architects from Pocatello did the designs as they worked with Tribal Health and Human Services on the needs and goals. Dixey said architect’s designs were received in May 2023 then interior work began with framing after the Ross Fork Community Center was completed. The facility was expanded to include a 600-foot group room/breakroom. The building has a brick exterior with medal siding and the installation of a new energy efficient synthetic TPO rubber roof system.
From left, Lemuel Stone, senior counselor in substance abuse and Juan Lucero, clinical supervisor for substance abuse unit.
She believes the paved parking lot is the standout feature of the project as it enhances the overall appearance of the building noting a significant amount of fill material was required to elevate the parking lot to a level that ensures proper drainage. “The Construction Services team worked together to finish both the interior and exterior of the building bringing the entire project to fruition effectively meeting the needs of the Behavioral Health Department,” Dixey said.
Funding source for the renovations are from the Indian Health Service COVID/ARPA money.
