Pubdate: Fri, 23 Jan 2009
Source: Penticton Western (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Penticton Western
Contact:  http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1310
Author: Kristi Patton
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

FACILITY BRINGS HOPE TO ADDICTED YOUTH

Susie Ruttan cleared the lump in her throat as she spoke, it has been 
almost 10 years to the day that she was forced to send her own son 
across the country for help.

"We had to send our boy on a journey thousands of miles away from our 
home because the service that he so desperately needed in British 
Columbia simply wasn't available," said Ruttan, at a ribbon cutting 
ceremony on Thursday celebrating a construction milestone at The 
Crossing at Keremeos, a youth treatment facility. "Finally, young 
people in B.C. struggling to overcome addiction will have access to 
programming in their home province."

The Crossing is a long-term residential treatment centre for youth 
located in Keremeos and thanks to the Ruttan family's determination 
to be heard, B.C. is no longer one of the few jurisdictions in Canada 
without one.

Ruttan and her husband sent their son, who was dealing with both 
addiction and a bi-polar disorder, to a Portage facility in Ontario 
to get help. It was the only choice they had, but within the next few 
months youth from B.C. will be welcomed to The Crossing at Keremeos 
for treatment at no cost.

Construction crews remain busy at the scenic 58-acre Keremeos 
property, but the completion of the Ashnola Lodge, a residential 
building that will provide accommodation for 42 youth along with 
space for programs, is a important benchmark for those who were 
involved in the partnership that brought this idea to life.

Out of the Ruttans' frustrations, they formed a group called From 
Grief to Action to help other families deal with a child's addiction. 
Nine years ago Rob Ruttan gave an interview on CBC that essentially 
prompted Central City Foundation, a charitable group from Vancouver 
that deals with the issues of homelessness and addiction, to purchase 
a piece of land in the hopes that they would be able to develop 
partnerships to create a youth addiction treatment centre.

The Crossing at Keremeos property will be leased at no cost to 
provide treatment for up to 42 youth, aged 14-18, who will live on 
site for between six months to a year, depending on their needs.

Residents will participate in a program developed by the Portage 
Program for drug dependencies which focuses on group therapy and 
physical activity. The youth attending The Crossing will also be able 
to complete their high school education and receive vocational counselling.

Residents of Keremeos have shown slight concerns related to negative 
experiences in the past with youth treatment programs. Health 
Services Minister George Abbott said this facility has a whole 
different dynamic because the youth residing at The Crossing will be 
there voluntarily.

"Some of the village residents may have had concerns like when young 
offenders were at one time held here, but no one is going to be held 
here. This is going to be a voluntary facility - this will be young 
people who have recognized, or a parent recognized, that they need a 
long-term residential facility to help them get away from the cycle 
of addiction that they are locked into," said Abbott.

Abbott said youth are being transferred to programs in both Quebec 
and New Brunswick, but by this March or April, he expects that they 
will be able to receive treatment at The Crossing. He said most of 
the residents will be from Vancouver Health Authority but the 
partners have been working with Interior Health to make arrangements 
so the facility can also be accessed by the youth in their region on 
a fee-for-service basis where appropriate.

"Today, young people in B.C. are exposed to alcohol and drugs at an 
earlier age than ever, putting them at greater risk of developing 
addictions," said Vancouver Coastal Health president and CEO Ida Goodreau.

"Having a long-term residential treatment centre will be essential to 
reducing the health and social impacts addiction has on these young 
people, their families and communities."

Funding for the project is coming from Vancouver Coastal Health and 
Fraser Health who are providing $2.4 million in annual operating 
funding. Interior Health will provide urgent or emergent medical 
services required by the residents of the centre.

Contributors to the capital campaign include the province with a $2 
million grant, the Central City Foundation with a $1 million 
contribution, private individual and corporate donors, foundations, 
the health authorities and the Okanagan Similkameen Regional Hospital District.

Susie and Rob Ruttan were one of the forces behind bringing the first 
long-term youth residential addictions treatment centre to B.C. The 
Crossing at Keremeos celebrated a major milestone on Thursday.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom