It\u2019s not just a renovation. It\u2019s a transformation.<\/p>\n
And not only for a building, but for those the building serves.<\/p>\n
Lehigh County Drug & Alcohol Services, in partnership with Treatment Trends, Inc., Lehigh County District Attorney\u2019s office and Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, has reopened Treatment Trends Allentown Residential following a $1-million renovation funded through Pennsylvania\u2019s opioid settlement.<\/p>\n
The March 6 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated center city Allentown facility was attended by county, area and state officials.<\/p>\n
In addition to opioid settlement funds, the project was funded by drug arrests forfeiture money.<\/p>\n
Treatment Trends Allentown Residential, formerly Keenan House, is a 50-bed facility for reentry-focused services.<\/p>\n
The residential treatment facility, 18 S. Sixth St., Allentown, supports those returning from incarceration.<\/p>\n
The four-floor facility has bedrooms, gym, relaxation rooms with computers, television, pool table and other amenities, bathrooms, meeting rooms and staff offices.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so excited about this program. This was one of the strongest programs in the state,\u201d Gary Tennis, secretary, 2012-2017, Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, said to a reporter for Lehigh Valley Press at the Treatment Trends event.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an incredible victory for Lehigh County,\u201d Lehigh County Executive Joshua Siegel said in opening remarks at the podium.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally, the victory here is for the previous Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin and Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan in [use of] the opioid settlement,\u201d said Siegel.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis facility represents hope and healing,\u201d Siegel said, adding, \u201cLet\u2019s continue to do the good work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Holihan said the project almost didn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe money was not spent. We had five months to spend $1 million,\u201d Holihan said, referring to the opioid settlement funds. \u201cWe were able to redirect the money,\u201d said Holihan, praising the collaboration of Lehigh County Drug & Alcohol Services Administrator Joe Martellucci.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce we realized what the needs were in our community, we utilized the opioid settlement funds and drug cases arrest forfeiture money,\u201d Holihan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe concept is that recovery should be available and make recovery less a privilege and more a right,\u201d said Holihan.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor more than 50 years, this has been more than a building,\u201d Facility Director, Allentown Residential, Chelsea Edmunds said of the newly-renovated facility, noting that admissions were suspended May 1, 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were at a crossroads. Thanks to the unwavering support of the Lehigh County Drug & Alcohol Services, just as we give second chances, we were given a second chance,\u201d said Edmunds, adding, \u201cThis isn\u2019t just a reopening. It\u2019s a rebirth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Architect firm for the project was Alloy5. Construction was by Elevate Construction Partnership.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis building may be renovated, but it\u2019s the people inside who make it extraordinary,\u201d Edmunds said, concluding, \u201cAt Allentown Residential, we restore each person.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s totally different. It\u2019s peaceful and welcoming,\u201d Executive Director, Treatment Trends, Inc. John E. Dillensnyder III said of the renovated facility.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d be remiss if I didn\u2019t thank the founders of this organization, the Csandl family,\u201d Dillensnyder said, referring to Keenan House-Treatment Trends co-founders Richard S. Csandl (1937-1988) and Robert Csandl, former executive director, Treatment Trends.<\/p>\n
State Sen. Nick Miller (D- 12) presented a proclamation to Dillensnyder.<\/p>\n
Andrew D\u2019Angelo, Executive Director, Center for Humanistic Change, was event emcee.<\/p>\n
Speakers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony included Lehigh County Commissioner Geoff Brace.<\/p>\n
Attendees included Joe Martellucci, Administrator, Lehigh County Drug & Alcohol Services; Molly Stanton, Assistant Administrator, Lehigh County Drug & Alcohol Services, and Michelle Ellison, Opioid Settlement Program Manager, Lehigh Valley Intake Unit.<\/p>\n
The Treatment Trends project restores 50 local inpatient beds after residents were being placed outside the county.<\/p>\n
The program is introducing a specialized track for individuals reentering from incarceration, aimed at improving recovery outcomes and public safety.<\/p>\n
Lunch at the ribbon-cutting was catered by Tacos Y Tequila. Refreshments and other event elements were underwritten by the Center for Humanistic Change.<\/p>\n
Treatment Trends information: https:\/\/www.treatmenttrends.org\/<\/p>\n
PRESS PHOTO BY SHERI BAYNELeft to right: State Sen. Nick Miller (D- 12) in proclamation presentation to John Dillensnyder, Executive Director, Treatment Trends, Inc. Allentown Residential.<\/p>\n
PRESS PHOTO BY SHERI BAYNELehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan<\/p>\n
PRESS PHOTO BY SHERI BAYNEJohn Dillensnyder, Executive Director, Treatment Trends, Inc. Allentown<\/p>\n
PRESS PHOTO BY SHERI BAYNEChelsea Edmunds, Facility Director, Treatment Trends, Inc. Allentown<\/p>\n
PRESS PHOTO BY SHERI BAYNELeft to right: John Dillensnyder, Executive Director, Treatment Trends, Inc. Allentown Residential; Gavin Holihan, Lehigh County District Attorney; Joe Martellucci, Lehigh County Drug & Alcohol Services Administrator; Chelsea Edmunds, Facility Director, Treatment Trends, Inc. Allentown Residential; Geoff Brace, Lehigh County Commissioner; Josh Siegel, Lehigh County Executive, and State Sen. (D-14) Nick Miller at March 6 ribbon-cutting for renovated Treatment Trends, Inc. Allentown Residential.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s not just a renovation. It\u2019s a transformation. And not only for a building, but for those the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":144584,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[119,121,120],"class_list":["post-144583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-allentown","tag-allentown","tag-allentown-headlines","tag-allentown-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144583","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=144583"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144583\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/144584"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144583"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=144583"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=144583"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}