Grouard alcohol treatment centre shuts down due to lack of funding

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Kapown Centre, the alcohol treatment institution run by the Grouard Indian band, has shut down because of lack of funding.

A statement from chairman of the board (and Grouard band chief) Frank Halcrow and chief executive officer Barry C. Nisbet notes that the closure of the 30-bed facility is only "a temporary interruption," but that is likely to be a little comfort to the 16 people suffering of alcoholism related ailments who will have to leave, nor to the 23 who were turned away from Kapown this month.

"Since the beginning, Kapown has been grossly underfunded," Nisbet said.

He added that the alcohol treatment centre needs as much as $500,000 more. In fact, he said, a government evaluation of Kapown found that a budget of about $1.2 million would be required to operate efficiently. "We are cutting a lot of corners," Nisbet added.

The evaluation, conducted by an official of the State of Oregon three years ago, noted the centre was "grossly underfunded."

The evaluator, Nisbet said, "didn't understand how the hell we were able to operate at all on that budget."

Kapown has a unique approach to alcoholism treatment that deals not only with the patient but involves the family and community as well. Kapown hosts traditional Indian feasts and twice yearly sober family gatherings. These occasions include local people and as many as 500 people attend.

The present closure of Kapown Centre, Nisbet said, "is a temporary delay. We are all still working and will continue on a daily basis to try and obtain the necessary funds." The chief executive officer said he expects the centre to re-open by April 1, 1988 ? "if not before."

"Every effort is being made by the executive and management to find additional funding."

Kapown staff is attempting to relocate the present patients to other treatment centres in the province, but at the end of last week places were found for only four of the 16 patients.

Treatment facilities at Bonnyville and Poundmaker's are filled to February and, said Nisbet, "all Native alcohol rehabilitation centres are full to capacity til next year."

(Courtesy of The MIRROR ? Northern Report)