SPOKANE, Wash. — The Native Project just opened a brand new children and youth services building in West Central Spokane this weekend right across the street from its existing location.
Most of the services The Native Project offers are open to everyone, including medical and dental care for all ages. The new service center already allowed staff to start bringing in new patients.
One need the center wishes to address is the lack of substance abuse treatment for youth.
“There’s not many agencies that serve youth for substance use treatment,” said Heather Lemery, substance use lead counselor for The Native Project.
The Native Project plans on focusing mainly on behavioral health and substance abuse treatment for all ages, including children as young as 10.
“Typically they say 10 to 18. Unfortunately, there are 10-year-olds using drugs and alcohol so they do need help,” Lemery said. “That just means we can help more kids.”
The Native Project’s CEO says the theme of the new building is “The Journey.” There is artwork on every floor to symbolize the journey many of its patients are on with addiction.
“The intention of every floor and all of the thought and mindfulness that was put into everything, everything has a meaning,” said children and youth services manager Sheena Birdtail.
Most of the center will be dedicated to behavioral health and substance abuse treatment resources.
“We have been doing it for a lot of years and it’s just amazing that we can help more kids than we have already,” Lemery said. “In that other building, we were a little bit restricted on what we could do, we still did the best to provide as many services as we could.”
The youth services center has individual and group therapy rooms as well as music and art rooms. The Native Project is hoping to expand the programming it can offer as its staff continues to settle in.
“I grew up in this community so I’ve utilized certain services that we provide,” said Birdtail. “That journey is being able to start where you need those services and then you move forward and you’re able to give back.”
The Native Project plans to have a grand opening for the building on March 21.
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