Funding drop forces Ellsworth recovery center to make tough decisions
11/12/09 | 16 comments

Funding drop forces Ellsworth recovery center to make tough decisions


Open Door wants to avoid erosion of services
By Rich Hewitt
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY GABOR DEGRE
Lori King of Mariaville was in the rehabilitation program at the Open Door Recovery Center in Ellsworth in 2003. The center recently lost about a third of it's funding due to the economic recession. Buy Photo

ELLSWORTH, Maine — In April, the Open Door Recovery Center celebrated its 25th anniversary of providing outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation services to residents of Hancock County as well as neighboring counties.

Four months later, it was forced to close Hills House, a safe, supervised home for women and their babies during drug or alcohol rehabilitation treatment at Open Door. The center had to cut back on other programs, as well, because of a significant loss of funding.

According to Open Door Director Barbara Royal, the economy has hurt people’s ability to give, with serious ramifications for the center. Donations provide a good portion of the center’s $1.5 million budget and without them, Royal said, the center, its program and its clients will suffer.

“Some of these people have supported the center for a long time,” she said. “But the economy has affected their ability to give. Some of them took such hard hits that they’ve had to retract their giving.”

The big hit for the nonprofit center came from the loss of a $250,000 annual endowment. Those funds usually come in January, but the donor has informed the center that they will not be available for the coming year.

“That’s $250,000 that’s gone as of January. We’re starting the year without that money,” Royal said. “But it’s not just the big donors. Even the smaller donations, the $5, $10, $25. That’s just not happening. The reality is that middle- and lower-class people want to give what little they can, but they’re having to hold on to what they’ve got for survival.”

The center could come up short by as much as $450,000, almost a third of its annual budget, but Royal said the center needs to raise at least $350,000 in order “to be secure.” If the center doesn’t get it, it will likely have to look at cutting additional programs.

Over the past 25 years, Open Door, located off Route 179, has treated more than 4,500 people through its 10-week intensive outpatient program, Royal said. About 60 people on average receive services at the center any given week. Many of those who graduate from the program also follow up through a six-month aftercare program and have stayed drug-free during that time.

In the two years it operated, the Hills House provided a safe place for 25 women and their children while they completed the treatment program.

“Some are pregnant, some are dealing with losing their child because of their addictions, and some are reuniting with their child which had been taken because of the addiction,” Royal said. “This provides a safe place where they can continue to be a family.”

Sometimes the fathers are included, although they do not stay at Hills House.

Keeping the mothers and babies together can reduce the impact of attachment disorder in babies taken from their mothers. It’s a problem that can cause complications later in life, said Nancy Hunt, manager of Hills House. It also helps the mothers to focus on their rehabilitation, she said.

“When the child is not there, the mother is distracted,” Hunt said. “They can relax when the baby is here; they feel safe and they can concentrate on their recovery.”

Open Door also works in the schools providing educational and counseling programs and also works with inmates at the Hancock County Jail in Ellsworth. Over the years, the center also has cooperated on inpatient and outpatient detox treatment with Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth. A doctor from the hospital works closely with staff and is on site part-time.

The loss of treatment has a tremendous impact on the community. With the loss of treatment services, she said, comes an increase in emergency room visits, and an increase in crime as addicts look for ways to pay for drugs.

“For every active addict, state statistics show that there are at least 20 to 25 people affected by that addiction — relatives, friends, co-workers,” Royal said. “There is an impact on the community, the work force, the schools. The ripple effect from just one client is significant.”

The center is planning a fundraising event on Jan. 23, 2010, at Ellsworth High School. The details are still being worked out, but the evening will include entertainment and comments from some of the center’s clients

People who want to contribute to the center may send donations to 8 Old Mill Road, P.O. Box 958, Ellsworth 04605 or check its Web site at www.opendoorrecoverycenter.org.

rhewitt@bangordailynews.net

667-9394

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Comments
16 comments on this item
On 11/11/09 at 8:53 PM, captainandy wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Worthwhile article. Here's a cause that is worthy of support.

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On 11/12/09 at 5:55 AM, brooks10 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

On 11/11/09 at 8:53 PM, captainandy wrote: Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Worthwhile article. Here's a cause that is worthy of support.

I agree with you.......

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On 11/12/09 at 6:38 AM, JeffDubay wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If your program helped men in need as well, I would donate.

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On 11/12/09 at 7:09 AM, demsuk64 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Well, maybe the center can turn to its former patients for some finacial help. I'm sure the alumni are all doing well and productive members of society.

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On 11/12/09 at 7:13 AM, aunttellie wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Hello Nancy, I used to play with Yvonne all the time when we were young. We had to be quiet when you and Larry were napping. I have heard fisthand you have an excellent program. You look great. Best wishes. Renee (Sawtelle) Kocot

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On 11/12/09 at 7:16 AM, voiceofreason wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

JeffDubay,

Check your facts before you embarrass yourself. I am in there about twice a month on business, and see many men in recovery getting services.

I have also referred several men to this program. This is such a saftey net for people looking for quality treatment for thier addiction. Given the recent provider crisis, Barbara and her staff have stepped up, with no judgement to pitch in and help out. Please donate!

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On 11/12/09 at 7:29 AM, JeffDubay wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

"Sometimes the fathers are included, although they do not stay at Hills House. "

Just going on what the article states. 'Sometimes' has a very arbitrary meaning.

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On 11/12/09 at 9:39 AM, citizenofbrewer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I didnt even finish reading this article NO OFFENSE maybe these babies should just be taken away and given to people who dont put themselves into positions where they become addicted to things and can actually take care of them without living off the state after they " finish the program". So tired of hearing about this kind of crap its time people get their act together, if they didnt have and addiction and then have kids we wouldnt have to con tinuously fork out money to support them and these poor kids wouldnt have to deal with ANY of the problems these people are worried about. Lets get some more clinics for people to run too, wish I had one that would take care of me when I am to tired or didnt want to work

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On 11/12/09 at 11:30 AM, letterreader wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

9:39 AM, citizenofbrewer wrote n~ there is a socialist program for you. It's called Social Security. How about cutting the weakest among us some slack? We will always have some weak people among us. The christian thing to do is help as best we can. Kicking a loser while he / she is down: you've got to be a rebublican.

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On 11/12/09 at 11:33 AM, PaleShadows wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Well said Letterreader. I agree.

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On 11/12/09 at 12:28 PM, freewill wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Often, the people opposed to some of the social programs have been faced with addiction and other self-destructive behaviors by family members. None of us knows the pain behind the comments that are posted so maybe we should all be more proactive and work toward improving our lot rather than arguing about it. Social programs are a necessary component in society but it grows tiresome to be confronted by the same individuals repeatedly in need. We must raise our level of expectation and encourage individual accountability.

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On 11/12/09 at 4:45 PM, Damoma wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Its an ADDICTION citzenofbrewer. Have you EVER been addicted? DO NOT JUDGE!!!

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On 11/12/09 at 7:38 PM, firefly wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I'm glad they had a second chance everyone deserves one and glad they took advantage of it.

May you lives be richly blessed from this moment on. Never look back in fear but only to remember how far you have come. Best of luck,,,,

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On 11/12/09 at 8:16 PM, chersully2000 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

People deserve a second chance, at the least. Glad there are places that believe that and give people a chance to turn their lives around. That is all some people need. Of course, people also have to take responsibility and be willing to work for their lives to be on a better track. ..but places like this are very beneficial and worthy and hope they continue to provide this to those in need.

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On 11/13/09 at 10:09 AM, webuddy wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Addiction is a physical/psychological dependance. Not a moral issue. Once youhave crossed the line and become addicted, it is known that you are for life whether or not you are using the substance. Any time the substance is picked back up-the addiction picks up where it left off. How many 12 year old make sound, safe decisions? I dont know anyone that wakes up and decides "when i grow up, I want to be an addict" Loving the addict does not mean loving the addiction. People are dying out there who want to get clean/sober and just cant. Condemnation and looking down our noses doesn't change the addiction-it just breeds ignorance and callous behavior. First and foremost we are all human-fallible. It is wonderful there are programs out there willing to help the people that many would like to pretend don't exist, not many people have that ability and compassion. Any program with positive results is a program worth supporting. God willing that will become a family of recovering human beings rather then a family rebounding from active addiction. Healing families are happening and it doesn't happen alone. I know this because my family is a recovering family-it has been generational healing and I am blessed.

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On 11/14/09 at 9:33 PM, loonym wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Great program! Many men, women, and children in the Hancock county region have been helped by these folks.

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