March 15, 2004
McCann Treatment Center, Bethel
YKHC Public Relations Press Release
As of Monday, March 1, the Bethel Boys Group Home has a new home at the Yukon- Kuskokwim Health Corporation's (YKHC) McCann Treatment Center, which is located at the Kasayulie Subdivision in Bethel.
"YKHC has assumed greater responsibility for child residential care, further integrating the services available to the children of the Y-K Delta," said Gene Peltola, YKHC's President and CEO. "YKHC is very happy to help in ensuring that residential services for children in our region will continue and be expanded under this new initiative."
The McCann Treatment Center was built as an inhalant abuse treatment program, and those services will continue to be provided in addition to housing the Boys Group Home activities.
In addition, YKHC is beginning a Girls Group Home Program, a service that has not been available before in the region. "We hope this will make it possible for girls to get the treatment they need without being moved from the region," Peltola said.
The Girls Group Home will start accepting new admissions by the beginning of April. In the meantime, girls who were served at the McCann Treatment Center will stay at the Receiving Home at night and go to the McCann Center for services during the day.
The Receiving Home, now owned by YKHC, is being renovated to meet codes and standards as a residence for children needing emergency shelter and for youth needing emergency residential diagnostic treatment to prevent hospitalization for mental health conditions.
The Group Home, originally located at the Bethel housing area, had been operated by the Bethel Group Home, Inc. (BGHI) for many years. The Bethel Group Home also ran a fish camp in the summers along Church Slough, between Bethel and Kwethluk.
Dan Munsy, McCann Center Administrator, expressed interest in utilizing the fish camp to continue providing culturally-relevant treatment and care. "It'd be advantageous to us," he said. "We've a whole lot of traditional activities in our treatment program, such as berry picking, tundra walks, ice fishing, rabbit snaring, catching salmon and drying it, Drumming and Dance, Elders Program, and things of that nature."
YKHC is ensuring that every employee of BGHI had an opportunity to continue working on behalf of children by coming to YKHC. "We welcome these new employees to the YKHC family," said Val Davidson, YKHC's Executive Vice President. "We're certainly pleased that their expertise will remain in the community."
In the course of these transitions, YKHC has made it a priority to achieve as much flexibility as possible in order to meet the individual needs of children of the Y-K Delta. "This has been a wonderful collaboration with BGHI and the Department of Health and Social Services," Davidson added.
YKHC continues to work with the Department and other local community providers to respond to the challenges the state is facing to ensure the highest quality of care and access to these services continues for the people of the Y-K Delta.