Sojourner Recovery facility opening

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EATON — Sojourner Recovery Services of Preble County welcomed the public to tour a new women’s residential drug treatment facility in Eaton last week.

Sojourner officials held an open house and ribbon cutting on Thursday, Oct. 20, at the residence located at 1881 U.S. 127 North.

The residence will be a shelter and recovery facility for Preble County women who are recovering from heroin and meth addiction.

The Preble County Board of Zoning Appeals approved temporary zoning for the Sojourner residential drug treatment facility on Jan. 26.

The house will be open to only women of Preble County and will feature 16 beds, according to Executive Director of Mental Health and Recovery Amy Raynes.

“We are going to make sure they have detox and treatment for their addictions,” Raynes said. “We at Sojourner are a provider, a private non-profit company, that provides the service for the room and board costs. We are hoping to make additions to this in the future.”

Raynes expects the Sojourner House to be fully operational in a few weeks.

Jacqueline Doodley from the Women’s Treatment & Recovery and Mental Health Program spoke of the importance of helping women in the community, and helping stabilize the family structure.

“We specialize in health and behavioral health,” explained Scott Gehring, CEO of Sojourner Recovery Services. “We serve the southwest region of Ohio. This is an amazing facility for us. Preble County is getting hit hard with the heroin epidemic and we needed to meet the need for the county. This house was originally a residence that was later converted into a bed & breakfast and were lucky to obtain it for our needs.”

“Our treatments range from 30 days to 120 days for patients who are in need,” Gehring said. “But the average length of treatment is usually 90 days. The length of recovery differs from patient to patient. For now, we have room for 16 people, but we really need more. Drug addiction here is escalating and even in Preble County, is a growing problem.”

Last year, Raynes said the cost of room and board is about $21 per day for the Preble County facility, compared to the Mental Health and Recovery Board paying as much as $135 dollars per day when sending residents out of the county.

“We accept Medicaid and we do not charge our clients for the stay, doctor visits or other expenses. Our services are covered by Medicaid and private insurance. We also are funded by donations and contracts with local entities, along with fundraisers and grants from the state and local governments,” Gehring said.

Not only will the center help to curb the heroin epidemic at a local level, but it will provide comprehensive services for women struggling with drug and/or alcohol abuse, as well as mental health issues, officials said.

“Anyone who is interested can contact us for themselves or can call any agency in Eaton — we partner with all of them and they will get you here for an assessment,” Gehring said. “We provide the entire gamut.”

For more information, call 513-896-3465, on Facebook by searching Sojourner Recovery Services, and at the website: www.sojournerrecovery.com.

This is a view of the back of the new Sojourner Recovery Service residential facility for women located north of Eaton on U.S. 127. The public was welcomed to an open house event on Thursday, Oct. 20.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2016/10/web1_Back-of-Sojourner-building.jpgThis is a view of the back of the new Sojourner Recovery Service residential facility for women located north of Eaton on U.S. 127. The public was welcomed to an open house event on Thursday, Oct. 20. Oliver Sanders | The Register-Herald

Pictured is an inside view of a bedroom where women will sleep at the new Sojourner Recovery House while receiving treatment. The facility, located on 1881 U.S. 127 North in Eaton, is expected to begin receiving clients in a few weeks.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2016/10/web1_Bunks-inside-Sojourner.jpgPictured is an inside view of a bedroom where women will sleep at the new Sojourner Recovery House while receiving treatment. The facility, located on 1881 U.S. 127 North in Eaton, is expected to begin receiving clients in a few weeks. Oliver Sanders | The Register-Herald

Amy Raynes (left), Scott Gehring (center), and Jacqueline Doodley (right) conduct the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Sojourner Recovery Service building on Thursday, Oct. 20.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2016/10/web1_Sojourner-ribbon-cutting.jpgAmy Raynes (left), Scott Gehring (center), and Jacqueline Doodley (right) conduct the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Sojourner Recovery Service building on Thursday, Oct. 20. Oliver Sanders | The Register-Herald

Jacqueline Doodley, a specialist from the Women’s Treatment & Recovery Program in Columbus, speaks during the open house ceremony at the new Sojourner Recovery House. The event was held on Thursday, Oct. 20.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2016/10/web1_Sojourner-speaker.jpgJacqueline Doodley, a specialist from the Women’s Treatment & Recovery Program in Columbus, speaks during the open house ceremony at the new Sojourner Recovery House. The event was held on Thursday, Oct. 20. Oliver Sanders | The Register-Herald

By Oliver Sanders

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Reach Oliver Sanders at 937-683-4062 or in Twitter @osanders_RH

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