The Link reports on first year providing addiction-related services

More than 1,400 people have been served by The Link in its first year of providing services.

And many came in to the center at Eighth Street and Dakota Avenue in downtown Sioux Falls more than once.

The Link reported more than 4,000 triage encounters in the past year while providing 24/7 access and services for individuals experiencing sobering, addiction management and behavioral health crisis needs.

“Thanks to the dedicated and professional team at The Link, we have already seen many lives positively impacted,” executive director Bill Earley said in a statement. “However, we know there are many more residents in need of The Link’s services. We’re here to serve, and we want to help.”

The Link is aimed at assisting individuals 18 and older connect to substance use disorder and mental health treatment and other support services with the goal of helping them thrive. Services offered include observation for people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, withdrawal management for people experiencing withdrawal symptoms and crisis stabilization for those experiencing a nonviolent mental health crisis.

While The Link opened in June 2021, the concept for the triage center is more than a decade in the making. The Link is structured around a public-private partnership among the city of Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, Avera Health and Sanford Health. Efforts from the founding partners along with additional community investors, stakeholders and others laid the groundwork and provided the financial backing to bring the project to reality.

“What they have invested in is I think in one word: hope,” Earley said.

“The concept has been proven. We’re a startup.”

The idea was to learn through the year and then make adjustments, he said.

“They are certainly doing the Lord’s work behind those walls,” said Mayor Paul TenHaken, chair of The Link board of directors, adding the center is keeping people out of emergency rooms and out of jail for detoxification, calling it “a more humane way” to treat people struggling with addiction challenges.

Police officers’ time also is freed up not having to take people to receive services elsewhere, he said.

“This place has just been an absolute win and a home run,” TenHaken said. “We’re figuring things out. We’re kicking the tires on this place.”

There have been zero issues at neighboring City Hall tied to the Link, he added.

“I would call that a success story as well.”

Avera is the contracted service provider for The Link, with a team that includes advanced practice providers, nurses, behavioral health and addiction counselors, and case management staff. Along with providing a safe place for people to access immediate treatment, The Link works collaboratively with other agencies in the community to assist people with aftercare services.

There is another floor that will be looked at in terms of how to expand services, TenHaken said.

“We’ve learned some things about how we have to pivot maybe some of our services differently, the types of patients we’re treating,” he said. “Our strategic planning is ongoing. It’s very messy work. It’s expensive. But it’s also in my opinion very rewarding at the same time.”

Residents needing support for issues related to addiction, sobering and mental health can connect with The Link in person at 132 N. Dakota Ave., by visiting linksf.org or calling 605-275-1000.

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