By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com

Celebrating one year at its new location in the East Pointe Center, Maryhaven held an open house Wednesday.

The open house featured tours of the facility as well as information about what programs Maryhaven offers. Also on display was artwork from patients who have used Maryhaven’s services.

Maryhaven has been actively involved in Crawford County since 2012. Originally located within the Community Counseling Services building, Maryhaven moved to FCBank on Washington Square in 2014, before moving to its current location at 137 Stetzer Road South in Bucyrus last year.

Paula Brown, lead counselor for Maryhaven’s Bucyrus facility, spoke about the community response.

“I think it has been positive, as our relationships have been growing and they see our presence in the community. I think people are more accepting of treatment and the stigma is breaking down of addiction, I do believe,” Brown said. “It just takes time, but I do believe that we are well received now, at least better than when I started.”

Brown spoke about some of the community outreach that they have done since coming into Crawford County, noting that they have partnered with numerous community agencies including Together We Hurt Together We Heal, the Crawford-Marion ADAMH Board, Job and Family Services, as well as the Crawford County Common Pleas Court Intensive Supervision and Treatment (ISAT) program

Brown described the work with Judge Sean Leuthold and the ISAT program.

“He has been wonderful to work with. He gives young people the opportunity to go through treatment and get the help they need with housing, with jobs. We partner with a lot of agencies such as JFS. It has been great to watch them grow over the year, sometimes year and a half, that they are with us. Of course, we have setbacks too when people relapse, but it has been a good partnership with him, and I am proud that we are involved with his program.”

CEO and President for Maryhaven Shawn Holt spoke about organization’s work within Crawford County.

“They are one of our bright shining stars here. They are doing a really good job,” Holt said. “We fully support this office as much as we can, but I think one of the biggest things we are excited about with this open house is she mentioned the stigma that is associated still with opiates and mental health, and I think the more conversations that we can have, the more that we can break down that stigma.”

During the open house numerous community leaders attended and toured the facility. Bucyrus City Council President Sis Love reflected on what it means to have Maryhaven in the community.

“They do absolutely fantastic work and this place is just top-notch, and I was just discussing with the director that to come into a place like this, it gives you a feeling of self-worth. It is a beautiful facility, it is here to help those that need help, and I think it puts a big foot forward into our community to say our community is stepping forward,” Love said. “This is a beautiful, beautiful place. I am very pleased with it.”

While Maryhaven has been at its new location for a year, Brown noted that there were some things she would like to expand.

“What I would like to see personally is an adolescent program because there is a great need with the juvenile court system,” Brown said. “The P.O.’s (parole officers) call me quite often (asking) ‘When can we get some adolescent programming going.’ I would like to see a trauma focus for women’s group. I think there is a great need for that because there is a lot of trauma that goes with addiction. Also, expanding mental health services. I would like to see that.”

Maryhaven is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday. More information can be found by visiting https://maryhaven.com/where-to-get-help/bucyrus/.

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