Historical February 1999 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
On the southeast corner of Pershing and DeBaliviere, two blocks north of the History Museum, and next to the Forest Park MetroLink stop sits Archway Communities, one of the oldest and largest community-based, nonprofit, substance abuse and treatment facility in St. Louis.
With 65 licensed beds, Archway serves many yearly in residence and on an out-patient basis. Archway is now celebrating its 30th year of serving the most needy and hardest to reach populations.
It began as a halfway house for men leaving prison. That was in 1969. Many were concerned about having a place such as this in our neighborhood. Archway worked hard at maintaining a low profile and being a good neighbor. Entrance to the facility is discreet, opening into the enclosed courtyard. Where staff and clients meet formally and informally and clients relax with guests. Store front areas on both Pershing and DeBaliviere were leased and further disguised the facility.
As Archway grew, some of the store front areas were converted to client use.
Now only the DeBaliviere side has leased space.
In 1998, Archway treated 1,918 clients, through its full continuum of services-residential, social detoxification, outpatient, aftercare, and specialty programs for gambling, Ryan White clients, and DWI offenders. Archway’s clientele are high risk and come to Archway with a multiplicity of needs. Archway is in partnership with the Metropolitan Employment and Rehabilitation Services and has an HIV specialist on staff. Archway receives clients from the St. Louis Drug Court and works in close association with the Safety Council of Greater St. Louis and Father’s Support Center of St. Louis which allows Archway to address the varied psych-social/ economic needs of those seeking sobriety and/or struggling to maintain recovery. Archway also has family/significant others group as part of its preventive service.
It is designed to educate family members about violence and risky behaviors and their role in fostering or sabotaging the client’s recovery. Archway’s main task is “to provide aggressive, community-based treatment and rehabilitation on a not-forprofit basis for men and women who have become dependent on alcohol and/or other drugs.” This task includes the provision of education for the client, client’s family, and the community about the risks and costs-both financial and human-of alcohol and drug abuse, and about alternative opportunities for living lives free of alcohol and drugs. Archway is the recipient of several grants and has a contract with the city but like other nonprofit social service providers, it does seek funds from business and individuals to help provide its programs. Like “The Little Engine That Could.” Archway keeps plugging along, dedicated to the community it serves, diligently, quietly, unobtrusively.
It is truly one of the community’s best kept secrets.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February 1999.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1999_02.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
