Blackfoot’s own peer-to-peer recovery center for substance abuse or mental health challenges, Center for Hope South, has opened at 181 North Main St.

Until now, those seeking a place to talk with others who understand their struggles have had to go to Idaho Falls or Pocatello. In fact, Center for Hope locations in both of these neighboring cities have had Bingham County residents as their second most participating population. There are also Center for Hope Centers in American Falls and Soda Springs. Rexburg will be opening a center on Monday.

The need for a local center became obvious to Blackfoot Mayor Marc Carroll and the Bingham County Commissioners. By using opioid settlement money, they jointly established a satellite Center for Hope. The more than $83,000 needed for getting the doors opened, included covering rent for first nine months and costs for insurance, salaries, training, furnishings and supplies.

Though the opioid funds are projected to continue for another 15 years, the county wants to review its financial support commitment after a year of operations. It is hoped the center will receive grants from Idaho Response to the Opioid Crisis to provide sustainable financing in the future. The success of drug courts over traditional jail sentencing is starting to bring more grants to facilities like Center for Hope that also help people turn their lives around.

What exactly is the center? It is a safe space where those who have struggled with addictions or mental health issues can build support relationships and plan an individual recovery path. There aren’t any counselors, but there are recovery coaches that have also struggled with similar issues and have found their way to a stable, happy life.

For example, Assistant Director Benji Pedroza has served a total of 10 years in jail and lived many years dodging warrants in between incarceration. He finally found support and turned his life into helping others find their way out of difficult and seemingly hopeless situations. The center is a place to find that hope again.

The recovery coaches are there to listen and meet each person where they are with support and without judgment. As Pedroza says, “When someone believes in you, you can begin to believe in yourself.”

For those ready to plan a recovery path, the coaches help them identify what they want and what they are willing to do, assess their options, connect them with available resources and help them keep focused on their path. Should they fall off that path, they are there too.

The center can also be a place to serve. For those that want to be involved and are able to participate mentally and emotionally, the center has periodic projects — such as a recent one filling Easter baskets for foster care youth.

Who can use the center? Anyone that is struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. No insurance is needed because it is free. No court mandate is needed either, though sometimes the drug court may include volunteer hours at the center as part of their treatment plan. Recovery coaches from the center regularly appear at drug court proceedings to make sure those participants know of the center and what it has to offer.

For all those seeking hope and support from those that truly understand, the center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or by calling or texting recovery coach Zach Maham at 208-821-1927 or Pedroza at 208-716-6558.