Community Healing

Petition in Support of Darrin's Place – Behavioral Health Treatment

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Darrin's Place is a behavioral health facility that Rio Arriba County is preparing to open in the next few months in the heart of Espanola.
These facilities do not raise crime. They do not increase drug use. They do not reduce property values. They do not threaten children or the elderly. Studies have repeatedly shown that they increase safety, reduce crime and improve the neighborhoods and community fabric where they are located.
This effort will transform a vacant, vandalized property to fill an urgent public health need. It will prioritize treatment for local residents many of whom cannot access treatment programs.
All aspects of Darrin's Place services and operations have been scrutinized and approved by both law enforcement, County and State health experts. Darrin's Place will substantially exceed the safety and security measures of the industry.
Social support and community play an important and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of addiction. These kind of programs emphasize hope and positive outcomes, rather than demonizing those seeking help and the facilities that serve them. It is time for our community and leaders to stand in support of Darrin's Place and the health services required to break the cycle of addiction.

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Darrin's Place is a behavioral health facility that Rio Arriba County is preparing to open in the next few months in the heart of Espanola. Recently, concerns have been raised by a small, but vocal group of community members who believe this facility is a risk to the surrounding neighborhood and to children in particular.

The County's Public Health Department asserts Darrin's Place is both safe and ideally situated. Copious and objective research on the impact of behavioral health centers to their immediate neighborhoods has confirmed this over the past two decades. These facilities do not raise crime. They do not increase drug use. They do not reduce property values. They do not threaten children or the elderly. Studies have repeatedly shown that they do quite the opposite – increasing safety, reducing crime, improving neighborhoods and rebuilding the community fabric where they are located.

The County did their due diligence in selecting this facility and operator, Darrin's Place. Their effort to transform a vacant, vandalized property will fill an urgent public health need. All aspects of Darrin's Place services and operations have been scrutinized and approved by both law enforcement, County and State health experts. It will operate under a strict security and safety code that is inherently safer and more closely monitored than most other public health facilities. This includes a rigorous assessment of all applicants by qualified professionals that will screen out registered sex offenders and those with a history of violence and criminal behavior. It will, however, prioritize treatment for local residents many of whom cannot currently access treatment programs. With nine out of every ten people on average unable to access treatment, we desperately need this facility.

Importantly, Darrin's Place will substantially exceed the safety and security measures of the industry. All staff will be regularly drug tested. All clients will be drug tested both during admission and throughout their stay. Security staff will be on duty at the facility 24/7 along with trained, drug-sniffing dogs and an on-site lab for rapid testing. All indoor and outdoor activities will be monitored by high definition video. An 8-foot metal fence will enclose the entire property. Those participating in the program will not be permitted to come and go from the property. A security officer will accompany residents whenever they leave the facility and they will never be dropped near schools or any place where children congregate.

The area of Espanola where this health center will be operating is no stranger to crime and drug abuse. In fact, drug use and a steady stream of petty crime persistently plague this area. The nearby Santa Clara Apartments is an epicenter of drug abuse, theft and marring vandalism that consistently requires the police. In contrast, this fenced, monitored property will provide an important buffer zone. As such, it will be contributing to the safety of nearby schools, as well as other public facilities, including several grocery stores.

Another aspect that sets Darrin's Place apart is their community work and contributions. As part of their operations, Darrin's Place leads age-appropriate presentations on drugs, alcohol and substance abuse in the neighboring community. This means our schools will benefit from an added resource and lifeline to address our drug program early on. Already, at least one school board member has enthusiastically embraced this idea.

Clients completing this program emerge drug-free with the skills and tools to remain drug-free. This reduces the public burden and expense addicts regularly place on our public services – healthcare, emergency services, police and many others. Sparing residents from both the financial and psychological costs, along with the trauma that goes hand in hand with addiction is something our community desperately needs. So many in our community, including our children, have had their family lives and welfare jeopardized by drugs and alcohol. This program provides each resident with a care plan that includes life skills, long-term support systems and job training. Consequently, their ability to re-integrate and become productive members of our community is significantly increased. What's more, graduates serve a positive examples and role models for their peers and families – helping to break the cycles of addiction that are sadly carried from generation to generation.

Over the past several months as the County has advanced this facility, members from multiple organizations have indicated their support both formally and informally, including: the Espanola Police Department, County Sherriff's Department, County Health and Human Services, County Commission, Espanola City Council, Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD), Rio Arriba Community Health Council, Espanola Safety Council, New Mexico Workforce Connections, Northern New Mexico College, Anna Age Eight Foundation, the Reroute Program, the State of New Mexico and several local medical facilities who wish to refer clients to us.

Social support and community play an important and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of addiction. As community members, we are advancing this petition in support of Darrin's Place and the behavioral health services they provide - which are essential to health and well-being of our community. We reject efforts that say they support these services, but place the condition "Not In My Back Yard" or NIMBY. We, the residents of Espanola and Rio Arriba County, recognize that this response will neither address our community needs, nor serve the safety and welfare of our children. No one is safe from the multiple threats posed by addiction. Until we build avenues for long-term recovery no child, no elder and no adult will be spared from this epidemic.

These kinds of programs emphasize hope and positive outcomes. Rather than demonizing those seeking help and the facilities that serve them, we are showing our support. It is time for our community and leaders to stand behind Darrin's Place and the health services they provide which will break the cycle of addiction in our community.

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