(The Center Square) – A recently closed mental health treatment center in the Chippewa Falls area could open and be restored to a 50-bed treatment facility if it receives support from Wisconsin legislators and Gov. Tony Evers.
Senate Bill 308 and its companion, Assembly Bill 304, would require $1 million in the state budget to help the nonprofit Lutheran Social Services purchase and renovate the Libertas Treatment Center.
The bills are on their way to be voted on in committee.
“Reopening this facility as a substance use treatment facility will help address the major void in our areas’ mental health services,” bill coauthor Rep. Clint Moses, R-Menomonie, said in a statement. “Without this service, our vulnerable community members facing substance addiction will need to leave their local support networks and travel across the state in hopes of finding a treatment center.”
The former L.E. Phillips Libertas Treatment Center was the region’s largest in-patient treatment center before closing last year.
LSS President and CEO Héctor Colon said the treatment center’s closure has “left the area in desperate need of health care services, and very specifically, mental health and addiction services,” in a statement first reported by Wisconsin Public Radio.
According to a statement by bill coauthors Moses and Sen. Jesse James, R-Thorp, the new treatment center would offer daily evidence-based treatment methods for addiction services.
Clients would participate in a variety of group activities and therapy sessions and would also be able to engage in GED classes, employment outside of the facility, and “other education.”
While the proposed 50-bed facility would only be available to treat men in need of recovery services, services for women would continue in LSS’ nearby 18-bed Affinity House facility in Eau Claire.
“Our top priority this session is investing in mental health and substance use disorder services and restoring access in northwest-central Wisconsin,” James said. “We’re proud to partner with LSS in a collaborative effort to reopen a much-needed facility in the Chippewa Valley, one that will benefit all of Wisconsin.”
At the bill’s public hearing Tuesday, Moses and James said they also made a request to the Joint Finance Committee to authorize the $1 million grant.
The item did not appear on the agenda for Thursday’s executive session at the time of publication.
• Elijah Guevara is an intern reporter and member of the 2025 Searle Freedom Trust Apprentice and Internship initiative.
