MONTICELLO – Excitement was in the air Tuesday afternoon as community members, healthcare advocates, and county officials gathered to celebrate the opening of Step One’s new Monticello location, broadening their reach of accessible addiction recovery and mental health services within the county.

The facility, accessible from the back parking lot of 457 Broadway, held its ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce. Attendees were able to tour the building, chat with staff, and learn about the organization’s services.

Step One, a Hudson Valley-based organization with locations in Ellenville, Kingston and Highland, provides trauma-informed and client-oriented care for individuals and families who face addiction and mental health challenges. Some of these services include intensive outpatient treatment, therapy, family-focused support, and relapse prevention programs, all designed with the goal of opening accessible pathways toward long-term wellness and, ultimately, recovery.

Praising the organization’s vision for the county, Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Matthew Sush welcomed guests to the event.

“They’ve [Step One] earned a reputation for providing compassionate behavioral healthcare and substance use treatment services,” Sush stated as he reflected on their previous work. “Their investment in Sullivan County demonstrates a commitment to the people here and ensuring their support is available close to home.”

Among those attending the ceremony, Administrative Judge Danielle Jose-Decker explained how vital treatment programs are in helping keep families together. Looking back on her long, two-decade-plus career advocating for children and families as she served on the bench, Jose-Decker knew firsthand how access to treatment is monumental in changing lives.

“Time and time again, the deciding factor isn’t whether a parent loves their child,” stated Jose-Decker. “The deciding factor is whether that parent got help.”

She added that courts aren’t centered around separating families but instead ensuring safety, noting that support and treatment usually lead to the best outcomes not just for parents, but for kids as well.

Also offering their kudos were Camille O’Brien of State Senator Peter Oberacker’s office and Honora Wohl of Assemblywoman Paula Kay’s office, both of whom shared the clear need for more treatment options throughout Sullivan County. County Human Rights Commissioner Ramone Wilson and health and human service agency representatives also extended their warm wishes for the success of Step One.

Mike Balles, Executive Director of Step One, highlighted the organization’s mission to extend that helping hand of treatment when people seek it out.

“The time to act is immediately—right now,” Balles stressed. “We want people to come in, and we want to be able to offer an intake assessment immediately.”

He shared a story from the facility’s preparation process that corroborated the profound need for Step One’s services. One of the staff members found an individual who had recently used drugs within the building prior to the location’s official opening. Instead of chiding the individual, Balles took this as a sign that Step One had found the right spot.

“Some people would say we chose the wrong location,” admitted Balles. “We knew immediately that this is exactly the right location.”

To Balles, it was this experience that highlighted the need for accessible treatment services and the value of having a welcoming locale where individuals can find help without delay.