Choices Drop-in Center Helping Build Community
‘Choices Drop-in Center’ recently cut the ribbon on its new center in downtown Oskaloosa.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – A new space recently opened up in the 100 block of 1st Avenue West, which aims to help those needing a little help in life.
The ribbon cutting at the First Resources Corporations new office space, called ‘Choices Drop-in Center’ was held on February 19th, and users of the resource were joined by members of the community to learn more about the service and to cut the ribbon, officially opening the location.
Sarah Schlax, Drop-In Center Coordinator, explained that First Resources is offering mental health support for those with disabilities, children who are in the middle of custody battles or behavioral issues. “The focus of the drop-in center specifically is to provide a space for people who are going through mental health concerns, crisis, diagnosis, and to get more information about their diagnosis, to socialize with people. To participate in support groups and to learn some life skills as well.”
Lindsay Paxton, Director of Mental Health, added that they had seen extremely high numbers of participants coming to the drop-in center for support and socialization, hope, and self-advocacy, and a positive environment. “It’s been extremely helpful in this community for people to get those resources here at the center.”
First Resources is contracted by Mahaska County, and is one of four drop-in centers, with Mahaska County’s center having been in operation since October of 2018.
If you are curious what, if any, services the center can provide for you, Paxton said to come and visit or call the center and they can provide additional information. “Anyone is welcome to drop in any time and check us out.”
Peers help peers in the center, and Nick Lippert, a Peer Support Specialist, is one of those individuals who play a role in that peer to peer support.
Lippert has PTSD and is bi-polar, and leads the addiction group at the drop-in center. “I’m six years sober.”
“A lot of our participants are shy, and a lot of it is because of the stigmas that we have socially with mental health issues. Once they come here and they know this is a safe place, and they’ve realized that I’m just like them, I’m not a therapist,” explained Lippert. “I’m here to help them. I go through the same things as them. Through the weeks, they open up a lot more. Now we have people that are making great strides in their recovery, and I think this center has a lot to do with that.”
Lippert adds that helping his peers helps his recovery more “than any medicine or any therapy I’ve ever done.”
“It helps me to know that I’m helping or using my experiences, the bad things I’ve went through, and now I can turn around and use them to help other people get through their bad experiences and bad times,” added Lippert.
Pennie Dalbey, Peer Support Specialist, leads the grief and loss groups at the drop-in center, agreed with Lippert in using her experiences to help others.
“To know that there are people out there with the same things. Then we can feed off of each other and help each other and benefit from that. That is a great experience,” added Dalbey. “That’s what I’m experiencing, that’s the way it’s helping me, and then it’s helping them, and they open up and know that there’s that support available to them.”
The drop-in center does offer free lunch Monday through Saturday at noon. “We feel that is a focal point of socialization,” explained Paxton. The various chores that go along with lunch are also helping in that recovery.
In closing, Schlax added, “The center would not be what it is without the community atmosphere we have. The peer support staff, as well as the participants, really add to that. One of our participants is very well known in the community, and he was here on the first day and brings a lot of people in. Every time we have an event like this, or a holiday party, or just any group that he thinks somebody might be interested in, he brings them in. Every participant has been incredibly welcoming of any new person who comes in, regardless of what state they are in. It’s been really wonderful to see.”
