The Former Grace Youth and Family Foundation building on Center Avenue has officially reopened as the Center on Center and will serve as a recovery community organization. This opening marks a new beginning for the recovery community but also a sign of growth.
In 2016 Rachel Shuster was charged with stealing medication and overdosing while on duty as a nurse. She would spend the next six months beginning her recovery journey, but one of the most difficult parts of her journey started when the story of her arrest made it onto Facebook.
Comments attacked her qualifications as a nurse and level of care she could provide. Shuster said if it weren’t for the six months of recovery she doesn’t know if she could have made it. Now the Shuster story has come full circle. She’s an Addiction Specialist at Highmark Whole care and is Chair of the Board of Directors for the Center on Center.
“It feels good, it’s like redemption but at the same time I know that where my heart really lies is knowing that there are a lot of stories out there,” said Shuster.” But I am seeing a lot more of these stories being done with more grace and internationally.”
Shuster also says that studies show when non-stigmatized language is used to describe those struggling with addiction it improves care.
Butler County Commissioner Kevin Boozel still has to remind himself that he hasn’t been working in social services for 20 years, it’s been 33 years. He sees the center opening as a sign on how far Butler County has come with how it views addiction and the recovery community; he just wishes they could have come around sooner.
“The residents of Butler County were just naïve, maybe weren’t educated in the area of recovery and recovery for mental health and drug and alcohol,” said Boozel. “It was an educational piece that we had to learn along the way, unfortunately it didn’t come as quickly as we hoped.”
For the Center on Center, the hope for Shuster is that the Center becomes a place where community continues to be built and offer options for recovery.
“I hope it becomes a place where people in recovery or people who are recovery curious can find connection and community,” said Shuster. “In a space that doesn’t dictate that they follow a certain recovery pathway.”
Ken Clowes works for Butler County Community College and has been in recovery for the last 10 years. He is the co-chair for the board of directors for the Center on Center. There still isn’t clear direction on what programs will be offered but there is one thing that Clowes believes the center will offer.
“We’re still trying to sort out the final details, but we finally have a place where people in the recovery community can come and hang out to feel like they’re a part of the community, and eventually get involved in the community,” Clowes said.
There is no set date on when additional programs will be made available as leaders within the center are still looking for community input. But, there are recovery specialists at the facility that can guide those in need to outside resources.
When Boozel started at the Irene Stacy Community Mental Health Center 33 years ago he never thought support like this could never exist.
“I can remember 33 years ago, when I started this there was nothing like this in our community,” said Boozel. ”We built up resources and support and I think that’s pretty impressive.”
The money for the Center on Center does not come from tax dollars, it comes from an opioid settlement agreement. Boozel sits on the opioid trust board for the state and shares what one mother told him about what this money is to her.
“A mother was there and said ‘these are not tax dollars, this is blood money, this is money that took my son and killed so many people,’ I can’t minimize what we’ve lost.” said Boozel. “The people who have lost have already paid the debt forward, now it’s up to these folks so less people have to pay.”
If you’d like to give input, click here.
