 
|
|
|
   
|
|
|
        
|
|
History of Scalo House October, 2002 Efforts that began in 1998 to open a halfway house for substance abusers came to fruition with the purchase of a house on Presbyterian Avenue across from the entrance to King's Daughters' Hospital. "We are establishing a halfway house for males that have gone through some kind of addiction program, wanting to maintain their sobriety but need some extra time and support," said Jim Couter, former co-chairman of Jefferson County Transitional Services. The nonprofit group purchased the building at 117 Presbyterian Avenue from the hospital. It previously housed the Jefferson community Federal Credit Union. The halfway house was named Scalo House in memory of Lou Scalo, who was instrumental in establishing the addictions unit at Madison State Hospital. The state hospital shut down the addictions unit, which bore Scalo's name, as part of its downsizing. Scalo House is comparable to a boarding house where the residents will leave for jobs, do cooking and housekeeping when they are home, participate in Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, and "be the best neighbor we can be." residents stay at the halfway house for an average of three months, then re-enter the community. Counseling and mental health services are not provided at Scalo House. Transitional Services received money for the down payment and the start-up operating costs. Grants were given by the Coalition Against Substance Abuse (CASA), the Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County, and King's Daughters' Hospital. Fundraising effort were were started by the group to rehabilitate the house. On April 24, 2004, eighteen months after acquiring the property on Presbyterian Avenue, Scalo House was opened for use as the community's newest facility to help those in need.
|
|
 Who was Lou Scalo? The Scalo Unit was named for its first program director, Dr. Lou Scalo. Dr. Scalo was a likeable, outgoing doctor of education who infused the addictions unit with the philosophy that one can learn as much from one's peers as from professional educators.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
© 2007 Jefferson County Transitional Services, Inc. All rights reserved. HOME | APPLICATION | CONTACT US | LOCATION