(Hartford, CT) – The Trump Administration overnight notified the state of Connecticut and community-based nonprofits across the state they are wiping out more than $10 million in grants that fund substance abuse, addiction and mental health services in the state, effective immediately.
The CT Community Nonprofit Alliance, which represents hundreds of nonprofit providers across the state, is still assessing today. But Alliance President and CEO Gian Carl Casa said the impact is a potentially catastrophic for thousands of people who rely on services.
“Nonprofit providers have struggled for decades with underfunding. Providers are still evaluating the total impact, but we know that without necessary funding, many programs will simply cease to operate and lives will be lost,” Casa said.
Casa continued, “The priority of any government should be the promotion and protection of the wellbeing of the people who live, raise families and pay taxes in its jurisdiction.
“It is hard to understand the Administration’s rationale that programs that literally save lives are not a priority and can be eliminated.
The grant cuts include an estimated $9 million from frontline substance abuse treatment and mental health awareness, school-based trauma, peer support and family support programs, provided by some of the state’s largest providers. Among them, Wheeler Clinic, McCall Behavioral Health, CHR, Rushford, and Bridges Healthcare, BHcare, The Village for Families and Children, Mid-Fairfield Child Guidance Clinic, and Clifford Beers.
The Trump Administration made additional cuts to other state-funded programs.
Casa said the Alliance will ask Governor Lamont to step in to save programs using the emergency fund created by the legislature in November to address federal funding cuts.
“The good news for Connecticut is that our legislature has created a $500 million fund that is immediately available to the governor to back fill these vital programs,” Casa said.
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