Sen. Stevens helps break ground for ARCH growth

By DARRELL L. BREESE
Alaska Star

Sen. Ted Stevens tosses a shovelful of dirt with Elaine Dahlgren, chief executive officer of Volunteers of America Alaska, while Jeff Jessie, of Alaska Mental Health Trust, looks on during groundbreaking ceremonies for the new residential youth substance abuse treatment facility on Hiland Road Aug. 9. Star Photo By DARRELL L. BREESE

Sen. Ted Stevens made a rare appearance in the Chugiak-Eagle River area Aug. 9, as he participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Adolescent Residential Center for Help expansion project on Hiland Road. Stevens helped secure $3.5 million in federal funding for the project.

ARCH is an intensive residential chemical dependency treatment program serving chemically dependent adolescents, ages 12 through 18, in a structured home-like environment, providing clear limits and boundaries.

The current facility, which was the former Ice Palace bar, houses 16 residents. The expansion will increase the residential space to 24 and nearly double the building size.

“Our old building is 5,300 square feet after we built a second story on the old bar,” said Elaine Dahlgren, chief executive officer of Volunteers of America Alaska and ARCH. “The new building will be much larger and have appropriate space for treatment and meetings with families and classrooms. When completed, this new facility will be designed to treat kids with drug and alcohol addictions.”

Stevens secured a federal grant to help cover the $6.6 million price tag of the new facility. The remainder of the funds came from the Denali Commission, the Rasmuson Foundation, Foraker Group and other private donations.

“This helps address a real problem we have in Alaska,” Stevens said. “We don't have large residential treatment centers for youth. We have to get partnership of various entities with government and private groups coming together to meet this need.”

Sen. Ted Stevens helped secure $3.5 million in funding for the Adolescent Residential Center for Help treatment center expansion project, a design drawing of which is pictured.

“Despite the tremendous work being done at ARCH, too many children are still being sent outside of Alaska to receive treatment — there simply aren't enough beds in our state,” said Stevens. “The expansion of this facility marks a major step forward in our efforts to rehabilitate children here at home, where they can receive critical support from their families.”

Dahlgren said ARCH was able to purchase the five-acre parcel next to the current building from Bernie and Eleanor Stewart, who homesteaded on the site,.

“The setting can't be any better,” Dahlgren said. “There will be a view of Eagle River from the windows, and Mount McKinley will be in the background. Having the serene setting is an important part of the rehabilitation process.”

Dahlgren also said the new facility will provide additional classroom space and recreation opportunities for the children in the program.

She added that the drug rehab program and facility have grown since it was founded in 1981.

“We had four kids on the first day 21 years ago,” Dahlgren said. “Since then, 4,566 kids have been through the building, having been given the skills they need for recovery.

“There is a strong emphasis on building the skills necessary for a successful transition back into the community,” she continued. “Family participation is strongly encouraged, with family members being offered education, counseling and support.”

Shortly after those gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony left, construction crews began preparing the land for a foundation.

“We hope to have things completed by next summer,” Dahlgren said. “And we hope the new facility looks more like a home than a treatment center, fitting into the surrounding area.”

Reach the reporter at darrell.breese@alaskastar.com.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, August 16, 2007.