Hope and Recovery

Melissa Gallegos from the Center for Hope on Main Street in Soda Springs spoke to both the City Council and the Board of County Commissioners recently.  The center is primarily grant funded as far as some of its costs, but is aided in its mission tremendously by the city and county who provide annual donations to supplement the funding.  The Center takes on clients from many sources, including the Drug Court, which is right across the street in the courthouse.

In addition to providing peer supported counseling and services, the Center operates as a critical part in the process of supporting those who choose to undertake to recover their lives from addiction and dependance.  The Center not only works with the individuals themselves, but often the family unit.  That kind of treatment approach has been shown nationally to generate the best results.  Those results are seen in the successes of the Center. 

“You asked me a question,” Gallegos said, during last week’s City Council meeting, “and I wanted to bring you real numbers.  Success of people going through drug court in general is 2%.  Working with coaches, it’s 7% in the state of Idaho.  I went through numbers for the last three years.  I work with people for a lot of things.  I help people find doctors, work, etc.  It averaged about 800 people a year, and 600 in recovery.  The rate I can put together is 12%, which is 80 people a year I’ve helped focus on staying sober and not re-offending.”

To someone unfamiliar with the treatment and recovery system, the difference between 2, or even 7 percent and 12 percent might not sound like a lot, but for those who have some experience with the process, it’s amazing.

At both the City Council and County Commission meetings, Gallegos brought in impact statements from clients, which she read out. 

The range of voices was compelling, as those who had benefitted from the Center shared their thoughts on how it had, in some cases, saved their lives.

“I would be lost without the Hope Center…” started one typical example, each one representing a unique story, and a family that was able to have their son, daughter, mother, father, brother, sister, or whoever come back to them.

“When I first came to SS, I had a horrible alcohol problem.  It has been a valuable tool in my recovery,” started another.  Soda Springs, and Caribou County, suffer from addiction problems shared by the rest of the county, and programs for those in need cannot be replaced.

“The Hope Center gave me hope, as it does to so many in the community,” started a third.  Many of the people helped in recovery choose to remain under the radar for a host of reasons, but they reached out on behalf of Melissa and the Center.

Melissa herself has said that “I am not in this for recognition, I’m in this for service,” and she repeated that sentiment again.  

“I don’t want recognition, but I love what I do.  That’s why I’m here to ask for donations.”

Last year, the city and county both donated to the Center.  As mentioned earlier, the Center is grant funded through Health and Welfare to keep operating.  That grant pays the rent, and provides the space.  But not resources, activities, which are a critical part of the process. 

Retired Judge Brown, who was in attendance at the City Council meeting, stated “I would like to encourage the city to consider a donation.  As many of you know, I’m a retired district court.  I’ve worked in problem solving courts and the Caribou County Drug court.  I’m sure Judge Cousins would second my support and recommendation to donate to the center. It’s by such a great resource to the community in my involvement.  It works hand in hand with the drug court.  The value the Center adds to the community is immeasurable.”  

Resident Kate Lauck seconded the judge’s support, having worked with the center on a number of local cases, and speaking about the impact on people she had seen.  “It’s hard to quantify the value of having a center like this in hard dollars, but kids who come from broken homes know that they can go to,” she said. 

Both the City Council and the Board of Commissioners contributed funds to the Center, which will allow it to continue serving the community so effectively.