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SUGAR GROVE -- The CEO of Highlands at Sugar Grove announced that the former Navy Base, now a residential drug rehab center, will delay opening from July to October until the dormitory can be brought up to regulatory standards.
Known to the group as "The Living Space," the dormitory has 95 bedrooms, 12 of which need to be reconstructed to be wheel chair accessible and compliant with ADA and legal requirements.
"We have been waiting for the (Medicaid) reimbursement rates to be released by the state prior to starting the major construction in the dormitory," Dr. Cynthia Persily, CEO, said in a press release.
Medicaid will begin reimbursing for short term residential drug treatment programs starting July 1. Rates were not released until June 7, Persily said.
"This does push our opening date back to October. …Wes Mason, CEO of Meridian Behavioral Health Systems, and Kevin Gersh, CEO of The Gersh Academy, are steadfast in their commitment to assist West Virginia and surrounding states overcome our current opioid crises," Persily added.
Highlands at Sugar Grove, located half-way between Sugar Grove and Brandywine, will be a 95-bed 28-day substance abuse treatment facility with the possibility of adults staying on later as the program matures into a sober living community located in the facility's extensive housing.
Services provided will include psychiatric evaluations and treatment, family therapy, individual therapy, group therapy, 12-step programs and case management. Through partnerships with other local health care providers, medical care for minor acute or chronic illness and other services will be provided.
Social issues such as housing instability, domestic violence, legal problems and others will be managed by social workers and case managers in conjunction with community partners across the state.
Additional services such as employment training, financial management and parenting programs will be offered as the program matures, Persily explained.
At a job fair held on the Highlands "campus" in May, more than 200 people applied for positions and spoke to a company representative.
Understanding the frustration everyone must be feeling now, Persily said Highlands is sending out letters "to every person who spoke with us or submitted a resume, letting them know about the tentative opening, and for those who were selected for this first round of hiring, we will follow up with them to ensure that they still want to join our team and give them adequate time to give notice to their current employer."
Highlands is still excited and committed to Pendleton County.
"Unfortunately our timeline has to be extended for us to properly lay the foundation for this important service. While it is disappointing, in the long run, it ensures that we are doing everything the right way for The Highlands to be a long-term community asset and partner," Persily stated.