Massive cuts to this program will directly impact the lives of over 1,400 refugee and asylee clients. These funding cuts will mean the slashing of half of all funds for Refugee Resettlement and Match Grant (an employment incentive program) and 10% reductions to case management support services, services to elder refugees, and assistance to survivors of torture, all of which are already underfunded.
A total loss of $6 million dollars in Maine will eliminate the network of residential treatment programs where the most vulnerable individuals receive treatment, greatly reducing funding for, and limiting access to, prevention services and programs for children, teens, college students and parents.
The Governor’s proposed budget eliminates $4.4 million from the Office of Substance Abuse’s (OSA) Fund for a Healthy Maine (FHM) budget. In addition to this reduction, the effects will be compounded by Maine losing $1.4 million in federal funds through federal Block Grant reductions.
A total loss of $6 million dollars to OSA will eliminate the network of residential treatment programs in Maine where the most vulnerable individuals receive treatment.
What does this mean to Maine citizens and taxpayers if we close 10 residential facilities? The total economic cost of alcohol and drug abuse in Maine in 2010 was estimated at $1,180 million or $907 for every resident in Maine. The three areas requiring the most resources are crime, medical care, and death. These costs will only increase without appropriate treatment opportunities. Spending money on treatment leads to health and public safety cost reductions, health care savings and improved workplace development and retention.
The loss funds will most likely impact Maine’s Substance Abuse Treatment programs by:
Cost offset of Treatment Services
The benefits of treatment far outweighs costs:
Catholic Charities Maine administers two of the programs focused on treatment of individuals with substance abuse disorders. Saint Francis Recovery Center is an Extended Shelter and Halfway House for men in Auburn. There are a total of 32 beds, 16 in each level of care. During calendar year 2010, we provided housing and treatment to a total of 335 men. All 335 clients were provided the intensive services of the extended shelter and 124 men were treated in the Halfway House. Our treatment success rates are considerably higher the national average. 70% of our residents are from the criminal justice system. Most of these young people have years of addiction, are poly-addicted and include a high percentage of opiate dependence.
The elimination of our programs and others in Maine would have a distinctly negative impact on our state and its citizens at a time of epidemic opiate abuse.
Please add your voice to ours, asking to reinstate the funds for substance abuse treatment in the governor’s proposed budget — and click here to help support this important program.
Proposed budget cuts will severely affect Catholic Charities Maine’s child development centers — St. Louis in Biddeford, and St. Elizabeth’s in Portland — which have been providing high quality childcare services for more than 30 years. Our nationally accredited and state certified childcare allows low-income/income eligible parents to work.
The administration, under the leadership of Governor LePage, has a vision to get people in Maine employed and to keep them working. Having access to safe, dependable, quality child care each and every day is necessary to the success of meeting their vision. Unfortunately the proposed budget cuts threaten this vision.
The proposed changes affecting childcare are:
The anticipated reductions in childcare funding and the reduction in rates will make it financially impossible for providers to accept a DHHS Voucher. As a result, many low-income parents will lose their access to high quality childcare.
Parents cannot work as much nor as productively as they do not have access to affordable childcare.
To help support this important program, please click here.