Livingston County Catholic Charities (LCCC) received two grants for 2019 to support its substance abuse treatment program, which serves the entire community regardless of race, religion, age, gender, disability and financial ability. The first grant came from the Harry A. & Margaret D. Towsley Foundation for $26,787, and the second is from the CPPS Heritage Mission Fund for $20,000.
These two grants will provide LCCC with significant support as it serves individuals and families struggling with addiction. The grant funds will be used to fill the gap LCCC experiences in funding for substance abuse counseling services offered on a sliding fee scale for the uninsured. Funds will also assist with gaps experienced due to lower third-party insurer’s provider reimbursement contract rates. Currently, it costs LCCC $87.37 per individual session, while the average client payment is $45.66 per individual session.
LCCC is the only mental health and substance abuse counseling facility in the county with a sliding fee scale, and one of three facilities serving Medicaid clients. Therefore, the poor, working poor and those without insurance have limited options for substance abuse treatment in Livingston County. For that reason, funding is critical to strengthening LCCC’s Substance Abuse Treatment program, maintaining a sliding fee scale and serving the poor and working poor.
The population that LCCC serves is a mix between individuals seeking treatment on their own and those who are court referred through the local legal system, often on probation or on parole. Last fiscal year, over 61 percent of those in LCCC’s Substance Abuse Treatment program reported living at or below 150 percent of the national poverty level. Consequently, many individuals and families cannot afford treatment services. In addition, high deductibles with some insurance plans also make treatment un-affordable, creating a barrier to living a substance free life.
Substance abuse issues are debilitating to the individual, their family and our society. Opioid addiction and overdoses are at a crisis level. Treatment through LCCC helps individuals and families struggling with addiction related issues to lead a healthier, safer and more productive life. Successful treatment also leads to decreases in the crime rate, law enforcement encounters, jail population and state and family financial burdens. Livingston County Sheriff Michael Murphy states that “substance use/abuse plays a significant role in at least 90 percent of people incarcerated in the Livingston County Jail. There is a direct correlation between use/abuse and poor decisions being made.”
“On behalf of the Coworkers and Board of Directors, we are truly grateful for the support provided by the Harry A. & Margaret D. Towsley Foundation and the CPPS Heritage Mission Fund,” said Mark Robinson, LCCC Executive Director. “Thank you for this support as we strive to respond to the needs of Livingston County.”
