SMALL AND MIGHTY

by Michelle Ruiz

The G.R.A.C.E. Center is a fully licensed and accredited substance abuse counseling facility in Grayling, Michigan. They’ve been living their mission of “helping heal the lives of those in need” since 1987.

In the late 1980s, the Grayling community witnessed a rise in the number of people affected by substance abuse. In response, in 1987, the St. Francis Episcopal Church established an outreach center out of their place of worship: the G.R.A.C.E Center, or Grayling Regional Addictions Counseling Education Center.

In its initial days, the center was simply a place for people to get substance abuse help. Carol Moggo, the G.R.A.C.E Center’s Administrative Director since 1995, says the program outgrew itself in just seven years. As more people became familiar with the services, it became more of a need in the community. Around the time Moggo started working, the G.R.A.C.E Center had moved out of the church into a building across the parking lot.

Since then, the center has transformed into a fully licensed independent counseling agency. The services have expanded to include substance abuse treatment, child and family services, specialized counseling services, and education and consultation.

The center is strictly an outpatient facility. They offer programs for individuals, families, and groups. Their daily counseling services help clients with things such as minor anxiety, depression, marital issues, and anger management services. Other services include domestic violence programs, and programs centered around family issues.

Their ministry doesn’t stop there. The G.R.A.C.E Center has established partnerships with the courts, the Department of Human Services, and local schools. The center offers evaluation reports and court assessments for the community and can even double as a driver’s license center.

“We’re a place that helps people! We’re small but mighty,” says Moggo.

Additionally, the center offers several workshops and educational presentations suited for group environments such as businesses, church groups, schools, and other organizations. Topics may include alcohol education, mental wellness, trauma, and recovery as well as spiritual retreats.

The center adapts and grows with the community. The treatments are a reflection of the community’s needs. Moggo says the center improves when they receive input from its clients. Staff from the G.R.A.C.E Center will often attend community events in the area, everything from parades to fundraisers, in order to maintain an ongoing relationship with the community they serve.

understanding the community and identifying their needs. In the past, the center has hosted events such as a Truck or Treat, in which the community gathers in a parking lot for a Halloween celebration, and has taken part in many health fairs. Members of the team have also joined several support groups and attended events for organizations such as Families Against Narcotics.

The G.R.A.C.E. Center aims to be accessible to the community. Most of the people that seek the services are eligible for treatment. The center is classified as a tax-attempt non-profit organization, opening up the organization to receive funding from a variety of sources including state and federal funds, grants, individual and business donations, client fees, and private insurance.

The center partners with outside organizations and courts to accept referrals and medical insurance. The duration of the treatments varies from person to person. The clinic works with every individual to accommodate people’s situations. Moggo says, on average, people receive about eight to twelve weeks of treatment with many exceptions. For example, sobriety programs and court mandates are assigned independently and domestic violence programs span up to 26 weeks.

Grant writing plays an important role in the overall operation of the center. There are few grants that the clinic receives every year that allow them to fully operate. Among their recurring grants are the Social Service and Ministry Network grants from the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan. Moggo says the diocese is a big supporter of G.R.A.C.E. for the services of people in need that might not have insurance. According to Robson, several people can get their services through grant funds. Typically, the center can accommodate those clients using block grants and sliding scale therapy. Sliding scale therapy refers to treatment priced by each person’s income and dependents. Members in the community can receive an adjusted fee ranging from $30 to $100 for services. Fortunately, Robson says they’ve never had to turn anyone away due to financial ability.

Unfortunately, changing with the community has not always been easy. When the pandemic broke out in 2020, the clinic had to adapt its services into a telehealth model.

“We had to really pivot,” says Moggo. The center had to transition to using electronic medical records which posed new challenges in patient privacy procedures. The shift pushed the center to allocate resources for new computers and new programs. Moggo emphasizes how much of a team effort it took. Thankfully, the center was able to secure federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to help with the cost.

The building officially opened back up to the public last year in August. The G.R.A.C.E Center now operates on a hybrid model, both in-person and online. People continue to request telehealth services for the flexibility it offers. Robson says that the online model even helps some clients attend more regularly. The center will continue to offer this hybrid model as long as the state continues to allow it.

Moving forward, the G.R.A.C.E. ' Center wants to continue providing a space for the community to heal mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. As Robson steps into her role as the center’s Clinical Director, they wish to expand their selection of group sessions. They hope to keep inviting the community in by offering programs like Yoga for Recovery to promote healthy conversations about mental wellness.

“We’re excited to grow! We’re going to keep building on what we already have,” says Robson. +

The G.R.A.C.E. Center is located on the campus of St. Francis, Grayling. Learn more about their ministry at gracecentergraylingmi.org.