Zepf Center will move operations

Nonprofit to rehab Ashland Avenue building

Zepf Center has purchased the former Liberty Nursing Center of Toledo, 2005 Ashland Ave., for nearly $440,000, and is in the process of rehabbing the building, said Jennifer Moses, chief executive officer at Zepf.

The nonprofit mental-health agency that provides drug-addiction services for thousands of Toledo-area residents is planning to consolidate several programs under one new roof.

Zepf Center has purchased the former Liberty Nursing Center of Toledo, 2005 Ashland Ave., for nearly $440,000, and is in the process of rehabbing the building, said Jennifer Moses, chief executive officer at Zepf.

Substance Abuse Services Inc., or SASI, an outpatient methadone clinic, will move from its location at 1916 North 12th St. into the new building. It will share space with Compass Corporation Recovery Service, which is at 2465 Collingwood Blvd. and provides inpatient and outpatient alcohol and drug-addiction treatment.

SASI and Compass receive public funding through the Lucas County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, and are the only agencies of their kind in Toledo that take indigent clients and those with Medicaid insurance. SASI and Compass treated more than 2,329 people between July, 2012, and June, 2013, said Jim Schultz, Compass division director.

“Our goal is to start transitioning services to the building in August, with the goal of early November to have outpatient services,” Ms. Moses said. She said the wiring in the facility will need to be updated before the agency can move the inpatient programs.

Compass and SASI merged with Zepf in January in an effort to provide comprehensive treatment options to the growing population of people suffering from substance abuse and mental illness, said Ms. Moses.

The 80,000-square-foot building also will provide space for Zepf to add vocational training classes for clients to help them find jobs.

“It will be more efficient and less costly. Its exciting. I think it is going to be great for the clients and the community, consolidating those services into one building,” she said

She also said there is a huge parking lot at the new location, which will be quite a change for the SASI clients who currently have to find parking on the street.

One issue that needs to be worked out is what to do with the buildings that are being vacated. Ms. Moses said Zepf is committed to not abandoning them and leaving an eyesore for the surrounding neighborhoods.

She said the Zepf child and adolescent outpatient clinic at 905 Nebraska Ave. will not be consolidated and will remain open.

Contact Marlene Harris-Taylor at mtaylor@theblade.com or 419-724-6091.