Swinomish tribal leaders and Whatcom County officials celebrated the opening of the Bellingham didgʷálič Wellness Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, Feb. 14.
Located at 2030 Division St., Suite B, the center is the second location of the Swinomish-owned and -run didgʷálič Wellness Center in Anacortes, which has become a national model for opioid care.
The Bellingham location is made up of two mobile medical units that will dispense methadone and buprenorphine, and a small clinic. Patients at the Bellingham location can also receive transport to the Anacortes location for further services.
Whatcom County is leasing the clinic space to Swinomish Health Services for $10 a month. Didgʷálič has invested more than $1 million into the staffing, mobile units, tenant improvements and startup costs for the Bellingham clinic, according to a memo to Whatcom County Council.
The center began providing services on Jan. 27 and is now open for walk-in appointments, said Heather McGuinness, partnerships and strategy supervisor at Whatcom County Health and Community Services.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
