On Tuesday, Nov. 17 Walden Sierra held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, officially opening Hope Place, its new facility in Lexington Park. Located in Millison Plaza, next to the gymnastics center, at 21770 FDR Blvd., Hope Place offers a range of outpatient services. Walden’s Executive Director said, “We offer help for today and hope for tomorrow.” 

Recent budget cuts prompted the consolidation of Walden’s sites and the larger Lexington Park location will serve an area that Human Services Director Bennett Connelly estimates houses “a third of our community”. Hope Place currently provides crisis and trauma services, counseling, and addiction services, but is hoping to add to its available services through community partnerships. The building also serves as the post for Walden’s 24-Hour Hotline, the longest operating professionally-staffed hotline in the state.
 
Connelly and O’Brien presented a services integration initiative to the St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners that would enable greater access to the network of supportive programs already in the area. Connelly explained the push to adopt a “wraparound model” that would better connect those in need with the appropriate and available services. He stated, “We want to create the idea: ‘There is no wrong door.”
 
O’Brien added, “We’re going to let the people that come to our door define what we offer.” She said that they had been open for roughly two weeks and had seen about a dozen people per day before the name was even on the building.
 
County Administrator John Savich, from the audience, offered, “Even though our county is somewhat insulated [from the poor economy], people are still seeking services.” O’Brien said, “Despite drastic cuts, our staff is energized.”
 
The Human Services Integration Team in Lexington Park reports they hope to begin seeking community partnerships and integrating services beginning in Jan. 2010. Through community cooperations, the group hopes to target those that may need multiple services, help curb the chronic homelessness in the area, and provide optimal help for individuals and families. Connelly said, “We’re trying to articulate to the community, ‘don’t wait until it’s a crisis situation’.”
 
For more information on Hope Place or Walden Sierra’s available services and other locations, check out http://www.waldensierra.org or call Walden’s Hotline for help at (301) 863-6661.