Photo: Ribbon-cutting ceremony held at new Pope’s Place respite center

Dr. Isaac Pope stands during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Pope’s Place respite center in Centralia on Friday afternoon. The new facility is named in honor of Jim Phillips, one of the Pope’s Place founders. The facility will accommodate up to eight medically fragile residents at a time for respite stays. Respite programs provide short-term breaks for families of medically fragile children and young adults. Respite care is for people needing temporary services, lasting up to 30 days. Pope’s Place now operates two pediatric facilities and one for young adults. In addition, it offers physical therapy and a family support center. Pope’s Place was established in 1995 by Pope, a pediatrician from Chehalis who also served on the Chehalis City Council.