Seasons of Hope open for three more weeks

There are new developments in the closure of Seasons of Hope.

Monday Heath Sommer released a statement telling the public clients will only be offered services Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. out of Carter’s Clubhouse on 265 E. Chubbuck Road for another three weeks.

They are hoping this will make the transition of client-provider relationship changes easier on their mental health, developmentally disabled, and rehabilitation patients.

Seasons of Hope was rapidly expanding, all the way to the moment when they were told their services were coming to an end for Medicaid patients.

Now, some employees involved with Seasons of Hope have suddenly become volunteers.

“There’s still a lot of people that are counting on us,” said Dr. Theodore Gardner, a clinical psychologist and former program manager of the Twin Falls location. “Frankly, I can honestly say I don’t have the luxury to plan. I don’t have the luxury to be sad or depressed.”

The former employees are using the Carter’s Clubhouse space twice a week now to offer referrals. They want to make sure patients they can no longer see are still receiving the help they need.

“It is what it is,” said Gardner . “We’re all just trying to figure out what the hell we’re doing. Just like our clients, just like all the other employees.”

Seasons of hope has been in business for three years. They were forced to lay off 96 employees and close their seven locations in Idaho. They will also be seeing clients in Twin Falls from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.Thursday.

The employees volunteering their time are still unsure what the future holds. They are trying to make sure their patients don’t panic. One former employee said he’s seen patients who have already experienced an increase of their symptoms due to the stress.

Seasons of Hope is still facing charges of Medicaid fraud.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says the company received $439,569 in services not delivered or not needed.