The Healthy Connections Center Opens Doors to the Community

From struggling with addiction to developing healthy connections. Last Friday the Health Connections Center opened its doors to the community for the first time. Through funding from the state’s opioids settlement and with a partnership between the Salvation Army of Hancock and the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department, a new space has opened for people seeking recovery from addiction. Program Director Gail Ploe says that the connection with the Salvation Army facility in Hancock felt like a natural fit for its amenities and existing programs.

“This has probably been 10 years in the making because of what we hear from people over and over again, when they get into recovery it can be lonely and we have wanted to give people a safe sober place to socialize and find support for a very long time. So we’re super excited to be able to offer coffee groups and craft groups and gathering people to go hiking and you know to play air hockey and have a cornhole tournament. So we’re very excited too.” – Gail Ploe, Program Director, Healthy Connections Center

Program Director Gail Ploe says that historically when people struggle with drug or alcohol addiction finding someone and somewhere to socialize with can become a daunting task. The center will offer sober programming and space for people in the community struggling with addiction to meet with support groups, one-on-one counseling, or make new connections say peer recovery coaches Madeline Pintar and Lenora Rautio.

“Because sometimes it’s just really about meeting them where they’re at. A lot of people just need love first and foremost. That’s something that’s missing in a lot of people’s lives. And so just learning to just love them and be okay with where they are and not trying to push them somewhere. But just really here’s a safe space to be and exactly as you are is okay.” – Madeline Pintar, Peer Recovery Coach, Healthy Connections Center

“And the other part of it is that we’ve both been through drugs and alcohol addiction and we’ve, you know, we’ve gotten into recovery. And so we understand what they’re going through and I think it helps them to know that we know where they’re at and we can, with our stories, we can, you know, just relate and make them feel more comfortable to know that we get it, you know.” – Lenora Rautio, Peer Recovery Coach and Community Health Worker, Healthy Connections Center

The Healthy Connection Center employs several peer recovery coaches and addiction specialists who can help guide someone along the road. Their staff are dedicated to meeting the community where they are. Working on small steps that have big impacts. Programs offered by Healthy Connections include Substance Abuse Disorder treatment, individual counseling sessions, support groups, as well as help with transportation, housing, employment, healthcare, and a harm reduction program and social opportunities. Those interested in learning more about the Healthy Connections Center developed by the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department in Partnership with the Salvation Army of Hancock can find more details here.