State funding for rehab program serving mothers proposed

The state would provide funding for a drug rehabilitation program serving mothers under a bill heard by the Appropriations Committee March 15.

LB325, introduced by Omaha Senator Gwen Howard, would annually appropriate $250,000 in the next biennium to the Behavioral Health Aid program for allocation to Heartland Family Service’s Family Works program.

Howard said Family Works is a residential drug and alcohol treatment program for pregnant women and mothers with young children. The program is unique because it allows families to stay together while the mother receives treatment, she said, adding that some mothers may avoid traditional treatment programs to retain custody of their children.

While LB325 would cost the state $250,000 a year, Howard said, the bill would result in an annual net savings of $85,000 in averted incarceration and foster care costs.

“LB325 will save the state money, preserve families and, likely, save lives,” Howard said.

Heartland Family Service president John Jeanetta testified in support of LB325, saying the bill would permit the Family Works program to expand from 10 families to 16 families. The program has a success rate of 68 percent, he said, which is 20 percent greater than the national average for residential addiction treatment facilities.

Federal funds support Family Works, Jeanetta said, but state funds could enable the program to serve more families. Because the program is at capacity, he said, Family Works had to refer 72 mothers to other programs in 2010.

Sarah Wells, a recent graduate of the program, testified in support of LB325. Wells said she had been addicted to drugs since 1999 and relapsed after entering a 28-day standard treatment program in 2009. When she entered the standard treatment program, she said, her motivation was not to rid herself of addiction, but to get her children back.

Wells said Family Works gave her the tools to prevent a relapse while permitting her to remain united with her children.

“This program has given me so much to live for,” Wells said.

No one testified in opposition to LB325 and the committee took no immediate action on the bill.