Rosecrance hosted a Rockford Chamber of Commerce “Good Morning Rockford!” breakfast and networking event April 14 at the recently relocated Ware Center.
Dozens of people stopped by the building for food, conversation and tours of the facility. The Ware Center opened in November inside a renovated former grocery store at 2704 N. Main St. It had previously been located just a few miles south at 526 W. State St.
Nearly 100 staff members work in the building, which serves about 5,500 adult clients seeking primarily outpatient mental health and some substance abuse services.
Rosecrance President/CEO Philip Eaton welcomed the crowd with a few facts about the building and the work that Rosecrance does. He said the Ware Center serves mostly people from the Rockford region, saying “these are our neighbors, and these are our relatives, in some cases.”
“We’re glad you’re here today,” he told the group. “Rosecrance works really hard to be a good corporate citizen in all cities. Our relationship with the community is very important.”
Paula Carynski, vice chairman of the Rosecrance Health Network Board of Directors, also spoke briefly, noting the prevalence of mental health and substance abuse disorders in the population and that many families are touched in some way by the need for services to help people struggling with those issues.
Chamber President/CEO Einar Forsman closed the short program with kind words about how Rosecrance handles treatment, its facilities and its workforce.
“Rosecrance always does it right,” he said.