By Angelina Jackman, Living Innovations community relations manager & employment coordinator
As a parent of two children with special needs and a direct support worker for Living Innovations with over eight years of experience in the field, I have seen firsthand the life-changing impact that adequate funding and support programs can have on individuals with behavioral health needs.
In my work, I have witnessed the profound growth, independence and success that people can achieve when they are given the necessary resources and most importantly the support of dedicated professionals. However, I have also seen the flipside: the heartbreaking reality of what happens when those resources are withheld or cut.
The importance of direct support professionals cannot be overstated. These individuals work tirelessly every day to help those with disabilities or behavioral health challenges live fuller, more independent lives. In a behavioral health setting, the level of care and guidance provided by DSPs is not just helpful. It is essential. I have seen individuals blossom in ways they never could have imagined without the support, gaining the skills, confidence and independence needed to live meaningful lives. Communities grow stronger when these services are available, and countless families can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that their loved ones are safe, supported and cared for.
My daughter Jaida, a 15-year-old student in Hodgdon, has just received the Secretary of the State’s Good Citizenship Award. This is one of many recent accomplishments. This is evidence of the work done by the support professionals and her services through Living Innovations. Jaida before services was riddled by debilitating anxiety and lacked the social skills necessary to safely integrate into her community and interact with the world around her effectively. Through support she has learned many skills and the importance of integration, community, volunteering and much more.
However, the reality is that not everyone has access to these crucial services and those that are lucky enough to receive support often face a system that is underfunded, undervalued and overworked. While residing in Aroostook County for 26 years, I have seen too many individuals and families struggle because they couldn’t access the right services at the right time. Some are stuck, waiting for months, others are simply unable to get the support they need, leaving them isolated and unable to thrive.
These gaps are not just numbers on a budget sheet. They represent real people, thousands of individuals, families and entire communities. When funding for these vital programs is slashed or remains stagnant, it is the most vulnerable that pays the price. The lives of those with special needs or behavioral health challenges are not abstract; they are made up of faces, families and dreams that deserve the opportunity to grow, achieve and live without fear of losing the support they desperately depend on.
Without direct support workers and the programs they provide, the cycle of dependency continues and the cost of this neglect cannot be ignored. While officials debate budgetary concerns, I am advocating for the dignity of our neighbors, the safety of our children and the well-being of our communities. Medicaid funding for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism is one of those crucial sources of funding that must continue.
Now, more than ever, we need our voices to be heard. For those in positions of power, local representatives and policy makers, it is crucial that you understand the very real profound impact that cuts to funding for direct support services have on the people we care about most. These programs and this funding is not a luxury; it is a lifeline!
This is not a political issue; this is a moral one. As a community, we demand that our leaders prioritize funding for direct support services and the workers that make this essential care possible. A failure to invest in these programs and continue funding will only lead to more hardship, higher cost, and a continued cycle of inequity for those who need the most help.
For those in rural areas like northern Maine, where services are already limited, the need is even greater.
