On the same day Jefferson County went to the polls for its primary election, a different kind of milestone was taking place on NW Fourth Street in Madras.
BestCare Treatment Services held a groundbreaking ceremony May 20 for a new 8,000-square-foot residential treatment facility at 316 NW Fourth St. — the future home of an expanded Programa de Recuperación de Madras, the only Latino-specific substance use disorder treatment program in Oregon.
The new building will house 16 beds, all dedicated to culturally and linguistically specific care for Latino men. Treatment is delivered entirely in Spanish and is rooted in cultural identity, family involvement, and community connection.
More Than a Building
"This project represents far more than a new building — it's an investment in a program that has already widened the access to care for Latino men," said Salvador Amezola, BestCare's Programa de Recuperación program director.
The project is expected to cost between $6.5 million and $8 million. Of that, $3.4 million in public funding has already been secured. BestCare CEO Rick Treleaven emphasized the program's core philosophy.
"In behavioral health, what that dignity means is that we provide compassionate care, that all people should have access to compassionate care no matter what," Treleaven said.
Melissa Thompson, BestCare's Chief Behavioral Health Officer and incoming CEO, noted the persistent barriers facing Latino residents seeking treatment.
"There are lots of folks that don't engage in treatment because of a language barrier or because of a cultural barrier," Thompson said at the groundbreaking ceremony. "Language, culture, fear and shame should not be barriers to treatment."
Rooted in Madras
BestCare's Programa de Recuperación has operated in Madras for more than 20 years, currently out of a 13-bed facility east of downtown. The new building will nearly double its capacity and provide a purpose-built environment designed to reflect Latino cultural values.
Catalina Sánchez Frank, executive director of the Madras Latino Community Association, presented BestCare staff with a commemorative plaque at the ceremony. KC Ledell, the senior behavioral health advisor for Gov. Tina Kotek's office, also attended.
"Culturally responsive treatment is the most impactful treatment," Ledell said, "and the impact of a facility like this that is focused on serving Latino communities will be immense."
Typical treatment stays run approximately 60 days. Upon completion, clients leave with a relapse prevention plan and a range of therapeutic resources to support long-term recovery.