Monday was opening day for the new SKILLS Outpatient Center for Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Portage, Cambria County.  The clinicians here are hopeful this new location will make a difference in Northern Cambria County communities. 

 

“It’s been about a year in the process getting to this point,” said Kelly Coldren, Director of Outpatient Behavioral Health and Addiction Services. “Starting from figuring out what location we were going to use to getting a lease to getting construction done to going through borough council to getting licensed to actually getting to the point today that we’re opening the doors to individuals.”

 

In their first hour of business, already one person walked in for help.  Coldren said, for now, they will be able to help up to 35 people. 

 

“We had a lot of people telling us that there’s definitely a need that’s not being served and that they feel we’re gonna get to where we need to be very quickly,” she said.

 

Eventually, they want to bring a psychiatrist on board.  The more staff members, the more walk-ins and clients they can see. 

 

“We just want to not take away business from current providers, but be open so that more individuals can be served in this community,” Coldren said.

 

123 Main Street is split by two businesses.  On one side you can get the clinical help you need, but walk right next door and find yourself on a spiritual journey to recovery.

 

“It just kind of fell into our laps that way,” said Melia Lewis.  Lewis is a minister at Sozo Inner Healing Ministry, the business that shares the building with SKILLS.  Lewis teaches healing through prayer and connection with God.

 

“I’m just leading you in to find out what is the truth,” Lewis said. “Why is your life this way and what can you do to get out of it?.”

 

Lewis started the program a year ago, hoping to help others as she tried to help her own son. 

 

“Our son went through a 20 year addiction and we know that we tried everything,” she said.  “We took him everywhere. We prayed and God did prevail in the end because, kicking and screaming, he went into treatment, but he came out a changed man.”

 

She said her son has been clean for over two years.  She’s hopeful for what’s to come with SKILLS moving in next door. 

 

“There’s the combination of both and I really believe this is an ideal setting for helping people,” Lewis said.

 

SKILLS does offer walk-in help on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  They have later hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon until 8 p.m. so people who need help can come after work.