ST. JOSEPH — Lakeland Health Foundations recently donated a $150,000 grant to fund the establishment of Carol’s Hope, an engagement center in southwest Michigan focused on helping people suffering from substance use disorder navigate local resources. As an alternative to emergency room care, the center, to be located at 4032 M-139 in St. Joseph, will provide clients a supervised, safe and supportive environment where they can develop a recovery plan and connect to services that will lead them to a better way of life, officials said. All services are available at no cost to the client or their family.

“Lakeland Health Foundations felt compelled to support our friends and neighbors impacted by misuse of drugs and/or alcohol,” said Brandi Smith-Gordon, vice president of philanthropy and president, Lakeland Health Foundations. “Engagement centers have been used for years across the country in an effort to support clients experiencing an alcohol or drug problem and get them the help they need. Carol’s Hope will help people in their current stage of change, tailoring options and services to best meet the need of the individual.  We are pleased to be part of this important work right here in Berrien County.”

Community Healing Centers will handle day-to-day operations of the organization with oversight from a local advisory board consisting of representatives from Spectrum Health Lakeland, Voice Change Hope Alliance, Michigan State Police, YMCA of Southwest Michigan, and the Berrien County Health Department. A grand opening event is scheduled for noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at Carol’s Hope.

Spectrum Health Lakeland is a nonprofit, community-owned health system serving southwest Michigan and northern Indiana. The system offers a full continuum of care and wellness services including three hospitals, an outpatient surgery center, a cancer center and 41 physician practices. Lakeland is a division of Spectrum Health with 30,000 professionals, 4,100 medical staff experts, 3,200 committed volunteers and a health plan serving 1 million members. Lakeland has been recognized as one of the nation’s 15 Top Health Systems by Truven Health Analytics, part of IBM Watson Health.