Good Shepherd opens life-changing office in Rock Island

Jerry Jett knows tough times. When he was a boy, he said his father “would beat me within an inch of my life on a daily basis.” That abusive upbringing would lead him to foster homes, living on the streets and alcohol abuse. “I would eat out of dumpsters. … I learned to survive on […]

Jerry Jett knows tough times. When he was a boy, he said his father “would beat me within an inch of my life on a daily basis.” That abusive upbringing would lead him to foster homes, living on the streets and alcohol abuse.

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“I would eat out of dumpsters. … I learned to survive on the streets. I was the best panhandler on both sides of the Quad Cities,” said the 60-year-old Rock Island man. Today, life is better for Mr. Jett. He earned an Associate in Arts degree at Black Hawk College a couple of years ago. He is continuing his education, is associated with Project NOW and is trying to help other people who have faced tough times and have turned to alcohol and drugs.  That journey to help other people in need led Mr. Jett to the Good Shepherd Foundation of Henry County’s new office in Rock Island on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The Good Shepherd is an outpatient substance abuse evaluation and treatment center based in Geneseo, Illinois, that recently expanded to the Quad Cities at 4711 44th  St., Suite 2, Rock Island. About 15 people – including Mr. Jett – attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new office to show their support for the new facility. The treatment facility will be a vital part of the community because it will offer needed services. Also, Good Shepherd is a nonprofit agency licensed with the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Abuse. That means people who need treatment and don’t have much money will be able to get help, said Craig Klavon, president of the Good Shepherd Foundation of Henry County. “This (new office in Rock Island) has been a longtime dream of mine. … We will refuse no one who needs this service,” he added. Good Shepherd officials said opening the new Rock Island office has been in the works for about a year and a half. The organization has spent about $25,000 to fix up the formerly vacant office on 44th Street to service patients while it waited on the needed approval from the state of Illinois to open the office. During the brief ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mr. Klavon told the crowd that it was a frustrating wait “because of the state and red tape” to open the office. Now that the office is open, he added that he’s happy services are now being provided. Services that are or will be offered include treatments for opioid, alcohol and substance abuse, group therapy, family counseling, DUI evaluation, driver’s risk education classes, early intervention, continuing care and intensive outpatient care.  Dr. Ron Christianson, Good Shepherd Foundation clinic director, said some of the people that will be seen in the office are self referrals. But many patients have gone through the legal system and have been ordered by the court to seek the services. “Today, we are opening doors of new opportunity to the people of Rock Island,” said Dr. Christianson during Wednesday’s opening ceremony. Currently, the new Rock Island office has three employees and is helping a few patients two nights a week. The office is now open by appointment only. But Mr. Klavon believes the office will get much busier –  and get more patients and employees – in the new future once more people become aware it is open. “We seek to make a difference by helping those in trouble or destined for trouble with alcohol and drugs. We help to identify their needs, set worthwhile goals, and help people of all ages live sober, responsible lives,” he added. The new Good Shepherd facility still has that new look to it with few furnishings. The facility features a front reception area with a large desk, two offices and a meeting room. But those few rooms are enough to help a great many people in the Quad Cities, said Mr. Jett. “It has great potential to help a lot of people. … It will be a blessing to society,” he added. Good Shepherd of Henry County also has an office at 796 Boone Drive, Geneseo. For more information, call (309) 944-6205.