Work On New Women's Rehabilitation Center Underway
By Dara Rees
WYMT News
November 4, 2007

Westcare Substance Abuse opened a male rehabilitation center in Eastern Kentucky in 2005 and is now working on a regional facility for women. The new facility will allow pregnant women and mothers to bring their children to the residential facility while they receive their treatment and care.

Pike County officials say it's time for a women’s' rehabilitation center in Eastern Kentucky.

"It's just something we've needed for years. I've been judge since January of 2000 and we've seen the need for this over the years," said Pike County District Court Judge Kelsey Friend.

Westcare purchased the Lookout Elementary School from the Pike County Board of Education to create a rehabilitation center for women, but the building itself needs a little work.

"The building needs a million dollars worth of work to become a licensed treatment facility in the state of Kentucky," said Vice President of WestCare Kentucky Jenifer Noland.

The residential facility will offer treatment for women with drug addiction, as well as job readiness programs, parenting skills, and even GED classes all while the women live on site.

"We will have a nursery here so that women who have children can bring them and they can live here with their mom's while their mom's are in treatment," Noland said.

Noland says the five acres of land offers space for therapeutic rehabilitation, such as gardens, a greenhouse, and a ball field. She hopes to share the space with the community and wants them to know the walking track will remain open to the public.

"We want to be a community center and we want them to take advantage of services we're offering here as well," Noland said.

Noland says they hope to use as many local contractors and workers as possible for the renovation.

Noland says this is not just a treatment center for Pike County, but for anyone who needs help. The new women’s' facility is expected to open in about a year.

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