Officials at Cornerstone Community Alcohol and Drug Recovery System are breathing a sigh of relief after Kings County agreed to fund them through Aug. 31, temporarily extending the life of its residential treatment program. Meanwhile, the origination's leadership on Friday vowed that it will do everything to keep its doors open.

The statement provides a glimmer of hope after county behavioral health in June decided to cut off its funding to Cornerstone for good. It was previously feared that the county's only state-licensed residential substance abuse treatment program could face closure after 19 years in existence.

"It's a bad time for everybody, but we have hope," said Margie Newton, a board member for the organization. "We're not going to give up, although it may be a long road."

Meanwhile, Cornerstone's Executive Director Tom Doyle praised Kings County for extending its funding by 45 days.

These additional funds will at least allow all of his existing clients to complete their residential treatment program and give the organization more time to plan for its future sustainability.

"With additional funding, Cornerstone would be able to continue to provide residential services and formulate a restructuring plan," Doyle said.

Cornerstone serves 225-250 men, women and children each year through 90-day to 180-day intensive residential rehabilitation programs. A closure would be a major blow to the community, where addiction is at epidemic proportions.

Cornerstone's board of directors has been meeting each week since the county announcement to cut off its funding three weeks ago to brainstorm strategies to keep the organization's doors open and exploring other funding alternatives, Newton said.

The facility has since applied for different grants, sought after private funding sources and has begun a process to receiving a Medi-Cal certification so it could contract directly with the state, Newton said. The organization, which has so far provided services at the county's expense, is also looking at a fee-for-service program.

"The demand is there for the service," Newton said. "What we have to figure out now is how we're going to serve these people."

Cornerstone is known for its residential treatment, as well as for the "sober living" program, which allows those who graduate from the treatment to continue living in a drug-free, alcohol-free environment as they try to get back on their feet.

What will happen to these programs?

"We're not even sure what it will look like in six months. Maybe a combination of sober living and outpatient and residential. We just don't know yet," Newton said.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(July 10, 2009)