Recovery center holds grand opening in Kamiah
Mar. 14—This story has been updated from its original version to clarify how many recovery centers there are in north central Idaho.
KAMIAH — A seven-year-long mission to help people address drug, alcohol and behavioral health problems in Kamiah has taken the next step.
The new Upriver Youth Leadership Council Recovery Center opened its doors earlier this month. A grand opening will be today from 3 to 5 p.m. at 602 Main St., Kamiah, to show off the new environs and to introduce people to the services the center offers.
Amber Hoodman, director of the center, provides recovery coaching and other services, such as 12-step meetings, activities, job referral and financial assistance, a food and clothing pantry and a safe space.
"If somebody wants to come in and get out of the cold, they can just sit down with a cup of coffee and I'll feed them whatever I have on hand," Hoodman said. "So the goal of this is to just offer that support network that people need. Just a safe space for them to feel like they belong."
Hoodman has been the program specialist for the youth leadership council for about four years. The council, under the direction of Sharlene Johnson, has been operating since 2017 with services and activities directed mainly at raising awareness of drug and alcohol problems among youth.
It became apparent, however, that recovery success usually depends on helping the entire family. Gradually the council has expanded its outreach to include adults in its activities. In September the organization was awarded a grant of $375,000 for each of five years from the Partnerships for Success Community Grant to open a separate recovery center. It is only the third such center in north central Idaho. The other two are in Moscow and Lewiston.
Hoodman said the center will offer services that people cannot find elsewhere in the community, including the surrounding area.
"And as a person in recovery myself, I know what it takes to get clean and change your life," she said.
"First of all, the person has to want it. It can't be pushed on them or wanted by family. They need to want it themselves. But they also can't do it alone, so they need support — a network of people who understand what they're going through and can support them."
Hoodman said the center is a judgment-free zone where people can get the help they need and feel safe.
People "are not judged or stigmatized when they come here and nobody's going to look at you sideways because you use substances. Because we've done it; we've been there."
In spite of the group's efforts, however, Hoodman acknowledged that the success rate for recovery from drugs or alcohol is not high.
"Because addiction is a disease and it's a lifelong battle," she said. "So if you start to isolate and you separate yourself from your support system, then chances are you're not going to make it.... They don't control it. The addiction controls us. So it's not anybody's fault."
Hoodman and Johnson said the community has been receptive and supportive of the recovery center. Partnerships have developed with Kamiah Fire and Rescue, the Lewis County Sheriff's Office and the Nez Perce Tribe. Services are documented and the group issues periodic surveys to youth to determine whether the rate of substance use has changed.
"I would like to think that all the work that we do has an impact on people," Hoodman said. "I can tell you I'm a lot busier now."
Johnson said the work of the youth leadership council and the recovery center has heightened public awareness about the problems of substance abuse.
"People aren't hiding their heads in the sand anymore," she said.
The center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and can be reached at 208-802-0312, by email at uylcrecovery@gmail.com or at the website: upriveryouth.org.
Hedberg may be contacted at khedberg@lmtribune.com.
