Opinion
Open Letter About State Budget Cuts from Family Re-entry, an Area Counseling Program
|
This opinion article, an “open letter” from Family ReEntry, a program that provides counseling to prevent repeat incarceration for those convicted of crimes and those suffering from mental health problems or substance abuse, asks for your support in convincing the Legislature — soon — not to cut their funding and funding for similar programs. The letter was published Monday:
The governor and Legislature are taking steps that drastically reduce Connecticut’s public safety and jeopardize our most vulnerable citizens. Disproportionately high cuts implemented last week by the Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC), in anticipation of the state budget being voted on this week by the legislature, have devastated the community justice providers across the state. Family ReEntry is a high-impact nonprofit agency with integrated services for reentering citizens, those suffering from mental health and substance abuse, perpetrators of family/domestic violence, and at-risk youth and families. These programs help halt the tragic inter-generational cycle of violence and abuse and are proven to reduce recidivism, victimization, wasted lives, state and local costs, and a number of collaterally negative consequences, as well as create a positive climate for business growth Connecticut. Family ReEntry was notified last week of the closing of 67 percent of its DOC community programs, including two large mental health and substance abuse treatment programs, which are already over-utilized and are projected to treat 1,600 by June 30, when the contracts are being terminated.