MAADAC Region IV/VI News

Massachusetts Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors,Inc.

36 Pleasant Hill Avenue Mattapan, Massachusetts 02126

January 10, 2001

MAADAC Region IV-VI 1/10 attendees: Louise Sutherland, Lynn Porges, Susan Descolaines, Ray Hoitt, Greg Arsenault,Joe Kelleher, John Frazier, Tom Delaney, Jim Carroll, Amos Marshall, John MacIsaac, and Lisa Clark focused on New Year Planning including February – Public Policy Conference in Review, March – Women and Addiction Recovery, April- National Alcohol and Drug Screening Month. We discussed focusing on legislative issues- such as the license, budget, parity. Everyone agreed to write letters concerning the CORI, and the right for the employer to decide whom to hire.

Thus – February 14^th, 4:30 PM,

National Public Policy Conference in Review ala’ John Avery,

NAADAC Legislative Advocate of The Year – 2001

John is NAADAC Political Action Committee Chair, and has been diligent about making known the need to invest in political candidates, who invest in alcohol and drug addiction recovery prevention, treatment, and recovery. He is well versed on issues from Parity to the War on Drugs, so can speak to any policymaker with the facts and stats. More than well versed, he is truly passionate about the need for recovery resources for persons to be referred to appropriate treatment. So- for a National Perspective please come 2/14 !

For Local Budget Advocacy to Support:

The Women’s Substance Abuse Task Force January 9^th meeting, chaired by Institute for Health and Recovery’s Executive Director, Norma Finkelstein, PhD—with

Betty Funk, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Corporations President, CEO, and

Pat Baker, MA Law Reform Institute, who related upcoming 2002 budget initiatives.

Betty reported that The Substance Abuse Coalition-which consists of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Corporations, MA Housing & Shelter Alliance, Recovery Homes Collaborative, Project ABLE are prioritizing :

Expansion of Services for Women and with Children- $1,850,000

Expansion of Transitional Support Services $ 500,000

Expansion of Residential/Recovery Home Services $ 650,000

For more info: Please call MHSACM, 508-647-8385

Pat Baker, MA Law Reform Institute shared on this year’s attempt for a budget language provision that allows Massachusetts to opt out of the federal TANF and food stamp disqualification for anyone convicted of a drug-related felony. The current policy creates harm to persons, who are attempting to live in recovery, crime free, and support a family. Note: 27 states have elected to elected to opt of the provision—including Vermont, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. For more info: Call Pat at 617-357-0700.

For a National Public Policy update, please come to the next MAADAC Region IV-VI meeting, February 14^th, 4:30 PM. Atrium II, Faulkner Hospital, and one credit.

Sincerely yours ~ Maryanne Frangules ~ MAADAC President ~ 617-298-1262