An open house was held on Tuesday, April 16 at Walden Sierra’s new The Cove/D.F.Z. Youth Wellness and Recovery Center. The Cove/D.F.Z. is a fun, safe and sober place for youth ages 12-17 that have concerns related to drug and/or alcohol use. Use of The Cove is free. They are open Mon-Fri 3-8 p.m. & most Sundays 12-6 p.m.
The program was established $276,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Health and Human Hygiene and funneled through the St. Mary’s County Department of Aging and Human Services. Matthew Reisdorph, the county’s prevention and treatment coordinator, told the commissioners in a presentation announcing the grant that St. Mary’s was one of several in the state identified for funding because they had a high number of adolescents in need of substance abuse services.
The Cove/D.F.Z. Youth Wellness & Recovery Center is located at the Walden-Sierra facilities at 44871 St. Andrews Church Road in California.
Walden’s Resource Engagement Laura Webb coordinator conducted tours of the facility, which includes a number of gathering rooms, with pool table, TV, and large bean bag seats for discussion groups. The program includes field trips, including one to a recent Washington Capitals hockey game. There also is an outside gathering spot.
A number of local officials attended the open house, including Commissioner President Francis “Jack” Russell and Commissioners Daniel Morris and Todd Morgan, and representatives of a number of county agencies.
Webb noted to the attendees that Walden is now celebrating its 40th anniversary and the open house was one of several planned throughout the year along with other events to honor the occasion. For more information about Walden check their website at www.waldensierra.org. The Cove is available of Facebook at Cove Walden.
Walden Sierra, Inc. is a non-profit behavioral health organization that opened in 1973 in St. Mary’s County. Their mission is “to provide a comprehensive array of crisis, trauma, behavioral health and recovery support services that contribute to the well-being of Southern Maryland. “ Walden’s 24 hour crisis hotline is 301-863-6661. They are on Facebook as “Walden Behavioral Health.”
