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GLRC has open house for Kivela Center in Negaunee

By The Mining Journal 2 min read
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 31 for the new John Kivela Center in Negaunee, from left are Tia Rodda, Nicolet Bank and GINCC board member; Dr. Kerri Schuiling, former interim president of Northern Michigan University; Tyler Jenema, Peninsula Pharmacy, GLRC board; Chuck Tooman, GLRC chaplain; Samantha LaJeunesse, GINCC director; Dick Graybill, GLRC board; state Sen. Ed McBroom; Lindsey Butorac, TruNorth Federal Credit Union, GLRC board; state Rep. Jenn Hill; Kathy Reynolds, Greater Munising Bay Partnership/Alger Co. Chamber & Munising Downtown Development Authority, GLRC board; David Knezek, senior chief deputy director, MDHHS; Dave Starr, Radio Results Network; Sandy Kivela; Ray Amtmann, GLRC board president; Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director; Greg Toutant, CEO GLRC; James Haveman, former MDCH director; Tom Edmark, West End Health Foundation president; Naima Jones, GLRC clinical supervisor; Nate Heffron, Negaunee city manager; Jess Murawski, GLRC senior director of clinical services; Dennis Smith, GLRC board; Mitch Leckelt, UP Health Systems Bell, GINCC board; Gar Atchison, UP Health System CEO; Dean Borlace, GLRC CFO; and Mary Myers, LSCP director of business development.

NEGAUNEE -- The Great Lakes Recovery Center had a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house Aug. 31 at its new behavioral health campus, the John Kivela Center in Negaunee.

The facility's name is in memory of former state Rep. John Kivela, who died in 2017 of an apparent suicide after a second arrest for driving while intoxicated. He had been a past Marquette mayor as well.

"This campus model will allow clients to benefit from increased integrated care opportunities as services will be accessed in one location," GLRC said on its website.

The center will be the new home for the GLRC's women's residential treatment program, including social detox, a recovery house allowing women to continue their life of sobriety after residential treatment and more, according to the GLRC's website.

The program is the second in the state where women can bring their children.

In addition to the residential programs, the center will also house the Negaunee Integrated Care Clinic, providing outpatient mental and physical health services, Child & Adolescent Specialty Services, including psychiatric care, mental health and substance use disorder outpatient counseling, according to GLRC.

Sandy Kivela, widow to John Kivela, said the center will help "so many families and change so many lives."

"We live in this motto, 'Always fight the good fight,'" she said. "The opening of this center is a true reflection of those words, and all the work that everyone has done to make this happen, and the hard work that will be done here by the people seeking treatment."

James Haveman, president of the Haveman Group, said he hopes those who come to the center with addictions find it a "positive path moving forward."

"A path that leads to sobriety and how to cope with the demons of addiction," Haveman said. "The loss and pain of the unexpected death of John is going to stay with many in this room for a long, long time. However, we are now assured that this place, which will have a calming spirit, will prevail for all those who enter and offer the spark that we all need and see to keep us moving forward."

For more information on the John Kivela Center and services through GLRC, go to greatlakesrecovery.org.

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