Some
consumers and board members of the Connection Center, a clubhouse for adults with severe or on-going mental
illness, pleaded with the Wood County Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Services Board on Monday to keep the
center in downtown BG. They say the clubhouse is centrally located, allows for socialization of consumers
and gives those with mental illness a public presence.The Connection Center is operated by Behavioral
Connections, but the ADAMHS Board pays Behavioral Connections to do so.The consumers and board members who
addressed the board on Monday said they were concerned about the possibility of having the center relocated
to the former Varsity Lanes bowling alley on South Main Street. They want to keep their clubhouse, which was
established in 1999, at 194 S. Main St.Dr. Richard Goldberg, chief executive officer of Behavioral
Connections assured Tuesday that no final decision has been made on whether to relocate the center."We
are listening to what they are saying and absolutely no decision has been made," Goldberg said."We
are taking their concerns seriously and we might not make a change at all," he said.Carol Beckley was
among those who pleaded with the ADAMHS Board to keep the center where it is.Beckley once struggled with
isolation. Even something as seemingly simple as leaving her apartment to pay her electric bill seemed like
an insurmountable task.But now, she does it herself. That’s something she credits to the Connection Center
and its location in the heart of downtown. The center was key, she said, in helping her re-integrate back in
society and to learn how to do things, like paying her electric bill, herself.Its downtown location is
something she, as well as other consumers and Connection Center board members, believe is what makes the
clubhouse so successful in helping those with mental illness to become more independent, rejoin society and
stay out of the hospital.Those in attendance at Monday’s meeting emphasized the benefits of having the
center located downtown where consumers can walk to the library, bank, shop at stores or pay their
bills."First consumers learn how to participate in things at the center and then in the
community," Beckley said.Years ago, prior to the center being opened, the mentally ill may have been
asked to leave a downtown establishment simply because they didn’t know how to dress or act, Beckley
said.But now, Beckley said, with the help of the center and city and the socialization aspect of being
downtown, many consumers thrive on the opportunity to grab a cup of coffee at Grounds for Thought, walk down
the aisles of Ben Franklin, or cash their check at KeyBank.The downtown location also serves as a way for
citizens to see those with mental illness interacting in the community."We have a visibility here we
are not going to have on the south side," Beckley said.Relocating the center would also put up hurdles
to consumers who walk to the center and would triple the number of people who would require transportation
to and from, Beckley said.Goldberg said those who spoke at Monday’s meeting do not represent the sentiment
of all consumers and board members of the center."You heard from four people at that meeting, but there
are probably 40 people who don’t care (if it relocates) or who want a new facility," Goldberg
said.Goldberg said if the decision is made to re-locate the center, one idea is to also re-locate Behavioral
Connections from North Prospect Drive to the former Varsity Lanes, too.The advantage to having everything in
a central location, Goldberg said, is that many of the consumers of the Connection Center also receive
treatment from Behavioral Connections.However, he reiterated, no decision has been made and one likely won’t
be made until January."That is one of several plans on the table," he said.ADAMHS Board Chair
Randy Rothenbuhler responded to those who spoke at Monday’s meeting."We hear what you are saying. I
think what we need to do now is take a look at it and I think the first step is to talk with Behavioral
Connections," Rothenbuhler said.