BOARD VOTES TO TURN ADDICTION CENTRE OVER TO HEALTH
REGION

The organization that runs an in-patient addictions rehabilitation
program plans to dissolve and is asking the Saskatoon Health Region to
take over its operations.

"Our view is that a significantly greater amount of money will make
its way into the Larson House facility operating under the direct
control of the health district than would ever have been the case
under our control by contract," said Jay Watson, president of Larson
House Inc. board of directors.

A non-profit, volunteer board has run the 18-bed addiction treatment
facility located on Avenue O South for decades and until recently was
funded by the provincial Health Department. For the past couple of
years, the health region has provided most of the cash needed to run
the centre.

The health region also contributed about $126,000 toward a $1-million
addition for an emergency detoxification unit at Larson House. The
federal government provided $732,920 while the City of Saskatoon
contributed $100,000. Larson House was responsible for $40,000.

Construction on the 12-bed short-term detox and recovery centre was
completed this summer, but it still sits unused. While Larson House
has blamed the delay in opening on a lack of funds from the health
region, the health region has maintained last-minute details regarding
staffing and programming weren't worked out until recently.

The decision to ask the health region to assume responsibility for
Larson House was made at a special meeting of Larson House Inc.
members on Oct. 20. With the detox centre expected to open by the end
of November, the members think the time is right to hand over the
facility, according to Watson.

"It's always tough being a non-profit organization. You've got to
scratch and claw and complain to try to grind every last dollar.
Traditionally, we've got cost-of-living (increases to our budget),
barely. It's been tough," said Watson.

"Before we had to fight with the health district. The health district
fights with the government. This way, there's one less fight."

But the head of the health region says there's no guarantee Larson
House will get more money if it is run by the region.

"We're still costing that out and it would depend on how we run the
house with the existing service and the detox," said Saskatoon Health
Region interim CEO Jean Morrison

"In health care, money is tight. That is an ongoing struggle -- trying
to work to define what programs and services you want offered how and
the money that is attached to being able to do that."

And Morrison isn't convinced that Larson House will be better off run
by the region.

"Working with community-based organizations is a great thing. I like
that and enjoy that and think the closer you can be to the community
the better it is," she said.

"If Larson House board has chosen not to be involved, yes, we're
committed to ensuring the service gets run."

The health region's board, the Saskatoon Regional Health Authority,
will discuss the future of Larson House at its public meeting on Nov.
17.

While Watson admits those involved in running Larson House would lose
control with the new arrangement, he says the health region has
assured the members that they can participate in an advisory board.

"The beauty of Larson House is when someone has a problem -- it
doesn't matter if it's four in the morning or midnight -- they get
help. There's no red tape. There's no bureaucracy. They'd come in and
we'd help. We have been assured six ways from Sunday that type of
approach will remain," he said.

The 15 current employees and the 14 being added in anticipation of the
opening of the detox centre would have to join one of the unions that
represent health-care employees, says Watson.

The only staff member who would not continue to work at Larson House
would be its executive director. The health region gave him the option
of applying for the job but he decided against it.

"I'm getting the golden handshake and they'll bring in their own guy
to run it," said William Logue, who has been executive director for
the past 17 years.

Watson expects the health region to assume responsibility for Larson
House on Jan. 1.