 Greetings!
Is it sunny out yet? While the weather has been dreary and the news from Augusta hasn't been all that great for Crossroads for Women, we are still optimistic about the future. In fact, we've got lots of exciting things coming up on the outpatient side. And we're looking for some dedicated men and women to join our board. It may seem dark now, but we have a feeling the future is going to be bright!
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Crossroads for Women Legislative Update
On Wednesday, May 4, the Joint Standing Committee on  Appropriations and Financial Affairs and the policy committees of the Maine Legislature held public hearings in Room 228 of the State House on the Governor's CHANGE PACKAGE to LD 1043. If this passes, the change package will close both of Crossroads for Women's residential facilities.
We asked for your help to fight the initial cuts that were proposed, and you acted. We gained support for our cause from many legislators, who in turn recommended restoring most of the Fund for Healthy Maine money back to substance abuse treatment and prevention. While the governor's proposed change package restores $2.5 million in funds to the Office of Substance Abuse (OSA) in the next fiscal year, OSA has determined that these funds will not be allocated to restore funding for 3 of the 10 agencies who provide residential treatment programs, including Crossroads for Women. We feel this response severely targets the women of Maine.
Barbara Dacri, Crossroads for Women's executive director, testified on the behalf of Maine women. Her testimony is posted on our blog.
We're hearing that the Appropriations Committee will be sending the budget change package back to leadership this week. While we are not sure what will happen in the end, we are elated at the support you all are showing us. Thank you to all who have contacted your local representatives and told them to restore all funding back to OSA.
Below, you'll find ways to contact your local representatives in the Maine legislature and a fact sheet with more info about the cuts and how they affect Crossroads for Women and all Maine women. The final budget will ultimately go to the full legislature, so keep letting your representatives know that OSA needs to be fully funded in order for Crossroads for Women's residential programs to stay open!
Take Action
Contact Your Representatives:
Maine State Senators
Maine House of Representatives
Supporting Documents:
Thank you for your continued support. Please share this post with anyone who supports women and children in Maine.Back to Top |
Exciting Changes Coming for Crossroads for Women
 Despite all that is going on with the legislature, Crossroads for Women has some pretty exciting things happening on the outpatient side, which you will be hearing more about in the months to come. While we can't quite tell you everything just yet, we can share a few things:
Expansion of Kennebunk Counseling Center
We are currently working on a plan to expand our current offices in Kennebunk at 2 Livewell Drive. We will be adding new office space and re-configuring our waiting room to serve even more clients.
Moving Greater Portland Counseling Center
With our lease up in the Old Port this fall, we started to look at other options in the Greater Portland area for our client services, administrative and outpatient offices. Parking has always always been an issue in our current location. We don't have everything finalized yet, but we will be moving into a bigger and better space with plentiful parking in early fall.
Stay tuned for more exciting news in the months to come!
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Join Crossroads for Women's Board of Directors!
 Are you passionate about treatment and recovery? Our board of directors is looking to recruit members - men and women - to help re-energize and lead Crossroads for Women into the future.
The Crossroads for Women board of directors is a volunteer group dedicated to helping women and their families conquer substance abuse and mental health issues, while working to eliminate barriers surrounding treatment access and reduce the stigma associated with addicted women.
If you are interested in finding out more about the commitment of joining our board, please contact Donna Chamoff, our vice president.
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Sincerely,
Jennifer Barbour, communications specialist
Crossroads for Women
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Crossroads for Women
addresses substance abuse and mental health so that
women and their families can live healthy lives. FMI, call 207.773.9931 or visit our website.
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Outpatient Therapy Groups
Professional Women's Recovery Group
Wednesdays, 5:30pm - 7pm
Friends and Family Group
Mondays, 5pm - 6:30pm
Kennebunk
The Aftercare Group (TAG)
Tuesdays, 1pm - 2:30pm
Managing Chronic Pain call for next start date
Windham
Friends and Family Group Mondays, 6pm - 7:30pm
The Aftercare Group (TAG)
Wednesdays, 6 - 7:30pm
Portland, Kennebunk & Windham
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Mon - Fri, 9am - 12pm
FMI
Portland,
207.773.9931 Kennebunk, 207.467.3369 Windham, 207.894.5733 |
  
 | | Crossroads for Women's Wish List |
From Our Blog
Another Tool for Recovery: The God (or whatever your higher power) Box
Our Residential Rehab program here at Crossroads for Women uses a lot of craft supplies - typical stuff like markers, scissors, colored paper, old magazines for collages, etc. Clients new in recovery often find the art projects our clinicians give them a new and creative way to sort through their thoughts and feelings, outside of the typical therapy sessions. The artistic expressions become another part of their new toolkit of coping skills. Shoeboxes are often in use at our residential facilities to craft God Boxes...Read More
What ever happened to saving women and children first? | Barbara Dacri's testimony from 5/11/11
Following is the text of the 2 minute testimony from Barbara Dacri, Crossroads for Women's executive director, to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs of the Maine Legislature. Barbara testified on 5/11/11 at the State House in Augusta, Maine in response to the governor's new change package. The Maine Office of Substance Abuse did not allocate any restored money for residential treatment for women and children. Many supporters watched on as Barbara told the committee why they should make sure Crossroads for Women's residential programs do not close...Read More |
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