Cuts force layoffs at program for disabled people

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Due to state budget cuts, today is the last day of full-time work for eight employees who assist disabled individuals with daily living skills and activities at Community Living Association (CLA). Tom Moakler, longtime board member and current CLA chairman, describes the situation as “very sad for the clients and the agency that offers tremendous service. I think [CLA] is  one of the best kept secrets in Houlton … It’s a shame to see these services reduced.”
Money, management, services
    At the heart of the current funding dilemma is maintaining services in day programs and coping with reduced income from the Department of Health and Human Services. Ann Stevens, director of community support programs, says after cutting several expenses and some employee benefits like dental care, “there’s nothing left to cut.”
    John Martins, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said the cuts are the result of a “tough decision that all state governments are struggling with in the economic downturn.” The department, he says, has reduced the number of reimbursable hours provided per consumer for the day program from 1,300 to 1,125 per year although that figure was initially even lower – 1,040 hours per consumer. There are 75 men and women with developmental disabilities and special needs in the affected day programs.
    Ron Langworthy, CLA executive director, says the standardized rates for all providers of day program services  “are the basis for our income, about 13.5 percent.” CLA employs about 265 people in various service programs such as group homes, staff-assisted independent living arrangements, a nursing home, staff-supported employment of disabled individuals, case management, shared living arrangements in the community and career enhancement in addition to its day programs. The agency’s budget is about $7 million.
Workers speak
    Several of the eight employees are parents and sole providers for the family. Lori Phillips of Littleton has been working at CLA for 2 1/2 years and, like others who sat down with the Pioneer Times, said she loves her job for which she has been highly trained.
    Secret Skinner of Houlton, the single mother of a disabled daughter, echoed that sentiment and her attachment to consumers while holding back tears. “I’m scared … I will be looking for a job in a place where there aren’t any jobs.”
    “Lois,” another single mother from Houlton who has a young child prefers not using her real name. She has been working for three years as a community support coach/program aide. She says she will miss the consumers. “We teach them life skills and get them out into the community.” Although she, like the others being laid off, will be on-call for coverage, child care will be difficult to manage on short notice if someone calls in sick.
    One of the laid-off employees has already secured a full-time position within another department of the agency for an evening position. Others expressed concern about paying bills and finding work. Pete Marcotte, human resources director said they are on a list and every effort will be made to find work for them within CLA.
    Jane Stile, a board member and mother of a disabled child, says she has been involved with the agency since 1979. “The consumers are not able to advocate for themselves and that’s the job of people like myself who have their best interest at heart.”
    Stile, like the program aides, says she is concerned that consumers  “are going to lose the skills that they have gained and have worked on over the course of time. It can be detrimental.” It will be a setback, she says, and she doesn’t know what the alternative could be.
    “I don’t want to see any of them sitting with too much idle time. I have written and received letters with sympathy. That’s not what we need. We need dollars to continue services to this special population.”
Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
SERVICE CENTER — Buses and cars arrive and depart with consumers who receive services at this  CLA location on Green Street in Houlton.