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Friendship House to expand mental health, substance abuse and medical care to Carbondale

The Citizens' Voice - 3/16/2023

Mar. 16—Friendship House plans to open a "whole person" center in Carbondale that will significantly expand access to mental health, substance abuse and medical care in northern Lackawanna County, the organization's leader said Wednesday.

The Scranton-based nonprofit social service agency recently purchased the former Mohegan Sun betting center at 15 Fleetwood Road for $620,000. It's now working to secure funding for renovations and expects to open by the end of this year, said Alex J. Hazzouri, Friendship House's president and CEO.

The center will join a sister facility at the corner of Wyoming Avenue and Biden Street in Scranton, where renovations are underway. The Scranton facility is expected to open by March 2024, Hazzouri said.

The centers will provide easy access to health services and counseling services in one setting. They also aim to address problems accessing mental heath care that have plagued the region in recent years, Hazzouri said.

Friendship House now offers mental health services at its two locations — 1509 Maple St., Scranton and 1300 Old Plank Road, Mayfield. In addition to expanding the line of services offered, the agency will have enough staff on hand to eliminate wait lists for mental health services and, equally important, accept walk-ins, Hazzouri said.

"If nothing else, besides having substance abuse and mental health and physical health in one building ... the fact that we are going to eliminate waiting lists and accept walk-ins is just wonderful," Hazzouri said.

Marie Onukiavage, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Northeast Region PA, said she's pleased to learn of the expanded mental health services.

"When people are in crisis, it's one thing for them to reach out for help, which is challenging in itself," Onukiavage said. "To then be told you are on a wait list ... by time the wait list comes around, the individual may not be open to treatment. You really have to be able to respond when the need presents itself."

The substance abuse counseling program will be a welcome addition to the Carbondale area, said Barbara Durkin, director of the Lackawanna/Susquehanna Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Access to treatment there has been more challenging since the Just Believe Recovery Center closed last year.

"I think Carbondale and that part of the county is lacking in both drug and alcohol and mental health outpatient services," Durkin said. "The opening of this facility will help with that need."

When the new Carbondale facility opens, the Mayfield location will close and patient care will be transferred there, Hazzouri said.

The Maple Street location in Scranton will continue to house the agency's administrative office. An early intervention therapy program for autistic children also will remain at that location, as will an early Head Start program. All other services offered there will be transferred to the new center at Wyoming Avenue and Biden Street, he said.

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9137

@tmbeseckerTT

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