Several locations proposed for treatment facility

Here is a chronology of county planning for establishment of an adolescent residential treatment facility (ARTF).

— August 2006: Salt Pond location groundbreaking with schedule to open in 2007;

— Aug. 21, 2006: State Office of Hawaiian Affairs blocks Kaua‘i’s Salt Pond ARTF plan;

— January 2007: Theresa Koki named county anti-drug coordinator;

— January 2008: New drug plan unveiled at annual Drug Summit; ARTF still a priority;

— February 2008: Discussion begins regarding interested land owner Steve Case via Melinda Barnes of Hale Kipa; site was between the new Kaua‘i Humane Society facility in Puhi bordering the Kilohana Carriage House;

— March 2008: Mayor Bryan Baptiste and anti-drug coordinator decide to walk away from Salt Pond opportunity;

— April-June 2008: Baptiste continued discussion with land owners/developers for ARTF;

— October 2008: Statewide Meth Action Team Conference. Kaua‘i identifies the not in my backyard (NIMBY) syndrome issue as a stumbling block to the success of an ARTF;

— Dec. 1, 2008: ARTF mentioned in inauguration speech and also listed as a priority in the mayor’s vision powerpoint Dec. 16, 2008; Treatment and Integration Team merged with the Meth Action Team (MAT) in December 2008 and focused on gaps in services for treatment and recovery facilities;

— February 2009: Anti-drug coordinator applies for and receives $2,000 grant from the National Meth Center to start focusing on a plan to assist with the NIMBY issue identified at the Statewide Meth Conference;

— March 2009: Mayor’s report card indicates that a siting of an ARTF was in progress and target completion date is December 2010;

— Oct. 9, 2009: Annual Drug Summit hosted with treatment group includes breakout session to discuss and start plans to educate community about treatment facilities using a logic model;

— December 2009: Anti-drug coordinator applies for $10,000 grant to continue moving forward with the educational plan for the community; 

— January 2010: County of Kaua‘i awarded $7,550 of the $10,000 requested;

— February 2010: elections for new treatment and integrations chairs are held;

— February 2010: Logic model for community education on treatment facilities completed;

— March 18, 2010: Treatment and Integration Committee meets and develops new strategies to gain community support and identify any new issues that have not been covered; committee worked to strategically prioritize the areas of importance;

— April 15, 2010: Treatment and Integration Committee meets and agrees that the next meetings will be focusing on the NIMBY issues;

— May 20, 2010: Treatment and Integration Committee works on NIMBY issue and identifies timelines and responsibilities;

— June 17, 2010: Amanda Gregg facilitated the Treatment and Integration Committee with the media campaign piece to address the NIMBY issue.

— June 29, 2010: Re-writing plans to use the $383,000 earmarked funds from HRSA to equip and furnish treatment center.