NEGAUNEE, Mich. (WZMQ) – U.S. Senator Stabenow continued her visits in Marquette Tuesday, touring around the Great Lakes Recovery Center. Senator Stabenow was meeting with the city manager, Northern Michigan Universities President, and other leaders of the community to discuss ways to address mental health in a rural place such as the UP. “I’ve worked with so many people here both on local economic development and jobs and people here at Northern,” commented Senator Stabenow.
Traveling to places like the Great Lakes Recovery Center here in Negaunee, Senator Stabenow commented that especially in the UP, there needs to be more conversation about developing mental health services. “It’s a really really important vision allowing women to have their children here sometimes you can’t get help because you can’t afford child care to be able to reach out and ask for help,” continued Stabenow.
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics is a program that the Senator has been spearheading and the GLRC applied for its funding. Executives with the Center commented that it’s not only critical to utilize similar funding opportunities, but it’s also useful to have elected officials like Stabenow in the area to see how things are getting done.
“For entities like ours, it’s vital funding so the enhancement that comes with this funding is really revolutionary its pivotal, allows for a lot of transformation for community services so that we can better serve all those that present for care,” commented CEO of GLRC Greg Toutant.
“It’s just great to be able to finally get all of these services in one location and have a campus in the UP that offers everything from residential treatment and recovery housing to outpatient care psychiatric care for kids and adolescents all in one place,” commented Marketing Dir. Amy Poirier.
“I’ve already put, written a letter put a good word in, and even as we were walking today texting with the folks in charge in D.C. and we’ll be doubling back,” continued Senator Stabenow.
The Center is getting closer to being finished with construction and has a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for August 31st. On Wednesday, Senator Stabenow will be traveling to Sault Saint Marie to see the work being done on the new Soo Lock on St. Mary’s River as it heads into phase 2 of construction.