Eden Prairie residential treatment center to shift away from LGBTQ focus

An LGBTQ-centric residential treatment center in Eden Prairie is shifting its business model, leaving some worried about a gap in services for a marginalized community.

Since 1986, the Pride Institute has offered inpatient addiction treatment specifically for LGBTQ individuals. In addition to its main 5-acre campus in the suburbs, the organization operates an outpatient clinic in the Uptown area of Minneapolis.

As of Jan. 1, the residential treatment center will change to an outpatient facility and shed its emphasis on serving the LGBTQ community. The Minneapolis location will remain in its current form, according to Stuart Morrical, Pride Institute’s director of business development.

One Pride Institute employee who spoke with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS said staff were notified of the change on Monday, and the facility has stopped accepting residential admissions. About 70% of positions at the Eden Prairie location could be affected, the employee said.

The staff member said the new business model could have widespread impacts for the LGBTQ community.

“When they call us, it’s the only place they feel safe,” the employee said.

Research shows LGBTQ youth and young adults are more likely than their peers to abuse drugs, driven in large part by struggles with their identity, discrimination and fear of family rejection.

Morrical said the “comprehensive outpatient model” under the new umbrella of Foundations Minnesota will “strengthen our ability to serve more individuals.”

“Changes in the Minnesota treatment landscape require us to update our service offerings to remain sustainable and mission-driven – and to support expanded access to treatment for more populations,” Morrical said.

Outpatient services to be offered at the Eden Prairie location include a partial hospitalization program, an intensive outpatient program (IOP), virtual IOP and additional adult mental health services.

More information on Pride Institute’s outpatient services can be found on their website.
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