Recovery Center cuts ribbon in Adair

The town of Adair welcomed a new organization to town last Tuesday, Sept. 12 with a grand opening and ribbon cutting for the Ivory Plains Recovery Center.

Ivory Plains calls home a building home that has previously been an assisted living facility and another recovery center for St. Gregory’s — Ivory Plains’ sister organization. The new center is at 608 North St., Adair.

Both men and women will be able to get the help they need in this 50-bed facility that has recently been renovated.

“This is a long time coming. I think this is going to be a great place for Iowans to come and get treatment,” said Ivory Plains Recovery Center CEO Richard Mullen. “It continues to be one of those places where people can find healing and families can start building back together and building relationships.”

Ivory Plains will be able to give substance abuse services with co-occuring capabilities such as family counseling, consideration of traumatic brain injuries and how they relate to addiction, and the use of trauma informed care, which says providers should have a full-picture look at a patient’s situation when serving them.

Mullen said it’s important that those who are suffering with substance abuse know addiction isn’t a life sentence for them.

“The need for substance abuse treatment is ever-growing in the state of Iowa,” Mullen said. “We want to make sure we have as many places as possible open and in place to be able to serve Iowans at the drop of a hat to make sure those who are suffering with addiction know there’s help, there’s healing and there are places out there that will provide them with a high level of care and healing.”

Senator Amy Sinclair, who serves a district in southern Iowa that includes Adair County, was glad to be a part of the grand opening festivities. She said substance abuse and mental health are each important topics in the world today.

“Iowa saw a huge increase in substance abuse from COVID and moving forward. The fact we’re here today and are able to give some assistance to an organization that’s providing help and healing for people right here in Iowa, this is a big deal,” Sinclair said. “Circling that in with support from a mental health standpoint, beyond just the substance abuse, they’re huge issues. I’m happy to be a part of the ceremony here today.”

Ivory Plains Recovery Center has several job openings currently. Once they build their census up, they’ll employ approximately 25-30 employees, Mullen said. He said Ivory Plains is excited to be an active partner in the Adair and surrounding communities.