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County deals with treatment program for pregnant women
Published Monday, November 17, 2008
On Tuesday the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners gave reasons for the expansion of an adult bed capacity at the nearly completed chemical dependency unit on the northwest side of Fergus Falls. The expansion will allow for the development of a specialized treatment program for pregnant women.
“The residential and treatment needs of pregnant women require a chemical dependency treatment program that also addresses their physical needs as it relates to their pregnancy and prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol,” said County Board Charman Sidney Nelson.
The county board, through Nelson, is sending a letter to the Minnestota Department of Human Services.
Nelson said that staffing and personnel expertise available at the new center in Fergus Falls will include people who have the skills and expertise in providing the specialized treatment and care needed to support a pregnant women’s program.
He said that Otter Tail County is in support of the proposed licensing and program changes proposed by Community Addiction Recovbery Enterprise (CARE).
“We believe that through this specializtion the program will be able to meet a statewide need in serving pregnant women who meet the criteria of a substance use disorder and are in need of chemical dependency treatment,” Nelson said.
The 60-bed and 34,000 square-foot chemical dependency unit is being built on 7.5 acres on the northwest corner of Western Business Park, off Western Avenue to the north of West Central Initiatives. About 14 beds had been earmarked for adolescents.
Now, with the proposed treatment program for pregnant women, juveniles would likely be transported to Brainerd. However, no final decisions have been reached.
The county-owned building has already been leased to the State of Minnesota which will operate the facility. This scenario is in place in order to obtain funding through the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA).
The HRA will hold title to the building until final payments are made. Last year $6.11 million in bonds were sold to fund construction of the facility. Otter Tail County and the HRA are providing financing for the building through the bond issue — to be purchased back by the state over a 15-year lease.
Comstock Construction is building the new center.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by rodentboy (anonymous) on November 17, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
do these pregnant women face any charges for child endangerment and the like or do they just release them with the kid after their stay?
Posted by positivelyperham (anonymous) on November 18, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ive got a better way. after they give birth take the child away, put it up for adoption to a good loving family and send da bitch to jail for a few years to dry out. and make her work her butt off to pay for the taxpayers expenses thru all of this. why in gods name do we insist on coddling these people.
Posted by hometown (anonymous) on November 18, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have an Idea, instead of admonishing these people for having drug problems they obviously cannot fight on their own, how bout we get them the help they need and really, really go after the drug dealers, and their dealers. Leagalize Marijuana and a good portion of this problem goes away altogether. Unfortunately this epidemic will never go away unless we go after the countries who make the stuff. That will never happen though because the countries that make it also produce really cheap oil. SAD!
Posted by Mr_Lincoln (anonymous) on November 18, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Leagalize Marijuana?How many 16 year old girls need to get to stoned and drive of the road for you to be happy.Nothing like haveing a doctor get done smokeing pot before he dose an operation.drug problems they obviously can fight on their own they just dont want to you cant make them sober up but you can take their kids.Sober dads would be a good choice for homes for the kids that a drug addict mom took from them.
Posted by Mr_Lincoln (anonymous) on November 18, 2008 at 5:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, research studies have found that between 10 and 20% of welfare recipients have a substance abuse problem, with about 5% of recipients affected enough to substantially limit their day-to-day functioning
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