BY MIKE NOLTING
The addiction triage center in Morgantown, Lauren’s Wish, has received a Congressionally Directed Spending Grant of $838,000 from the office of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin.
The center is at Hazel’s House of Hope on Scott Avenue and has a 28-bed capacity, common areas where those in recovery can relax, socialize and hold group therapy sessions; two TV rooms; and a workout facility.
Operations manager Brandon Wise said this grant will go a long way toward stabilizing the organization and the services it offers.
“It’s really going to open the doors for us to stay open, number one,” Wise said. “Number two, really make sure the clients get the care they need; all their basic needs are met.”
A “triage center” is designed for people struggling with addiction who are ready to make a change but have no other place to go. Lauren’s Wish provides those people with initial services while placing them in an inpatient or other facility for the next phase of treatment.
“Medical expenses, as far as medication goes, sometimes when they come to us, they don’t have insurance or they are in a bad situation and have to leave or lose their medicine, and insurance won’t cover it, so we help out with that,” Wise said.
Since opening in October 2022, Lauren’s Wish has placed about 85% of the 496 people who have been admitted into treatment services. From that group, three have gone on to complete classes to work in peer recovery and have served clients at Lauren’s Wish.
