Appreciation Day: Stephanie Dumas of Lehigh Acres and Laura Hatfield of Lee Memorial Health System. Photo provided

Area residents were able to find out which social service agencies help with health care and what scholarships are available for college-bound students at the Community Appreciation Day May 14 presented by the NAACP in partnership with Southwest Florida Addiction Services (SWFAS)

A dozen local service agencies distributed information about local programs and services at SWFAS’ Vince Smith Center, the residential treatment program for teens with substance abuse disorders, at 2450 Prince Street in central Fort Myers.

Represented at the Community Appreciation Day were CCMI (food assistance);Edison State College and FGCU (scholarship assistance); Lee County Public Schools (GED information); Family Health Centers (medical and dental care); Island Coast AIDS Network (ICAN) (HIV education); JBH (mental health counseling); Lee Memorial Health System (blood pressure checks and nutritional information); Lee Mental Health Center (mental health counseling); Missing and Exploited Children; Quality of Life Center (secondary education); Salvation Army (counseling, food, homeless assistance); SWFAS (treatment for substance use disorders); and the YMCA (recreational programs).

“Our goal was to provide a one-stop location for anyone who needs assistance or just wants more information,” said Dr. Belinda Bruster, chair of the Women in NAACP Committee and an assistant professor at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU).

“We also offered tours of The Vince Smith Center, our 20-bed facility for adolescents recovering from substance use disorders, and showed visitors our Challenge Ropes Course that helps build teamwork and trust,” said Vince Smith Center Director Lydia Neal.

SWFAS also provided free hot dogs, chips and soft drinks served from the canteen truck of the Salvation Army.

The Lee County branch of the NAACP began March 3, 1938. Its primary goal is to improve the status of all people.

SWFAS is the most comprehensive substance abuse treatment and prevention program in Southwest Florida, serving 6,000 people per year from ages 9 to 90. SWFAS offers outpatient and residential programs for both adults and youngsters from five locations in Lee County and two in Hendry County.

In addition, SWFAS provides detoxification services for adults, prevention programming, and an Employee Assistance Program for about 50 Southwest Florida businesses.

SWFAS services are not free. Fees are charged on a sliding scale, based on family income. In many cases, private insurance is accepted.

SWFAS gives priority admission to pregnant females and uses evidence-based practices to engage IV drug users in treatment. SWFAS does not deny treatment due to inability to pay. SWFAS is a United Way agency.