A grass-roots group expects to submit an application to the Idaho Millennium Fund in September requesting $125,000 in startup funding for a new substance abuse recovery center in Lewiston.
The effort stems from the success Latah County had with its new center, which is scheduled to open next week (see related story).
"We've been following in their footsteps," said Mike Kingsley, a member of the Region 2 Behavioral Health Board and a strong supporter of the Lewiston proposal.
A steering committee of about 14 community members is putting together the funding plan, which is due Tuesday. The center would serve as a resource for people with behavioral health issues, Kingsley said, providing them with information about available treatment programs and helping connect them with sponsors and employers who are willing to help.
The center would also provide a place for people to write resumes, as well as a call center staffed by volunteers.
"When they come in we'd ask if they wanted our support and how often they'd like to be called," Kingsley said. "Then we'll call and check how they're doing, see if they needed any help that day."
The $125,000 in startup funding would pay for rent, office equipment and a small staff, he said. The ongoing cost would be around $75,000 per year. Some of that would be provided by donations and fundraisers, although the group hopes additional state funding would also be available.
That's a concern for state Sen. Dan Schmidt, a Moscow family physician and member of the Idaho Millennium Fund Committee.
"I think the committee is comfortable providing startup funding, but not ongoing funding," he said. "We want the communities to see the value of these centers and commit to providing that ongoing support."
The Millennium Fund receives a portion of the annual interest income from Idaho's share of the tobacco lawsuit settlement payments. The money is used for a variety of health care and substance abuse programs, including tobacco cessation. The Millennium Fund Committee reviews the applications and makes recommendations to the Idaho Legislature.
In 2015, the Legislature approved funding for four recovery centers, including the Latah center. It's expected to approve another four startups next year.
Like the Latah center, the Lewiston operation would be based on a Connecticut program that emphasizes peer-to-peer contacts - volunteers who have had substance abuse issues themselves helping others who are just starting their recovery.
"It's an informal network of folks who have recovered offering support for those in need of recovery," Schmidt said. "With that model, people are more likely to get connected and stay connected."
The committee is encouraging the new centers to collect data on the number of people they help and the type of services that are most needed.
"I think (the Millennium Fund) is a great place to try and figure out what type of programs work and what doesn't," Schmidt said. "That's why we're emphasizing data collection."
Kingsley, who had his own issues with alcohol abuse in the past, said there's a large recovery community in the Lewiston area that's committed to making the new center a success.
"Once it's up and running, the support will be there," he said. "This is really so inexpensive. If we can keep one person out of jail, that's $50,000 right there. These dollars (for a recovery center) are miniscule."
Although applications to the Millennium Fund are due in September, the Legislature won't make a final decision on which programs to fund until January or February.
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Spence may be contacted at bspence@lmtribune.com or (208) 791-9168.
