Latest news with #Thresholds
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wicklow mental health practitioners star at launch of The Write Coach's book
The Power of the Written Word is Carl J. Ashley's fourth published work and ninth book in all, and he is also the founder of Write Coach Ireland, offering writing mentorship services as well as ghostwriting services, professional editing, proofreading and copywriting services. Guests who spoke at the launch in Blessington included Yvonne Skelly of Lake Shore Wellness Centre and Barry Adamson from Thresholds. Carl explained: 'I like to use my book launches as a platform for mental health awareness, so it was great to have Yvonne and Barry involved. Yvonne carries out great work in the locality and Barry is a Shamanic healer. 'I'm launching the book at different locations and aim to highlight some of the great people serving their local community and providing them with a platform to share their message.' Carl helps people around the world tell their story via his Write Coach Ireland website. 'It wasn't planned and all just seemed to happen itself, very organically. Over the past five years I have worked with people mainly from Ireland, England and the USA. We sit down and talk about what they have been through. Often it involves physical, sexual abuse, and find the healing elements through talking about what you have been through. It's about teaching people self empowerment so they are honest with themselves and what they have been through. 'My first book took four years to write, but The Power of the Written Word only took around four months. 'I had the idea in November and it was published in April. Anyone who is interested in writing will get an insight into what they can expect from the book.'
Axios
05-03-2025
- Health
- Axios
U.S. House GOP budget could gut Medicaid, hitting 3.4 million in Illinois
U.S. House Republicans passed a budget resolution last week that could cut Medicaid, a health care program that 73 million people across the U.S., including 3.4 million Illinoisans, rely on. The big picture: The plan calls for about $1.7 trillion in federal spending cuts and directs the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion over the next decade, which would be nearly impossible without Medicaid taking the hit. Between the lines: Some Republicans, especially those from rural areas that rely heavily on Medicaid, have raised flags about how the cuts would affect their constituents, and President Trump has promised not to eliminate it but to cut Medicaid fraud. How it works: The federal government matches state money to fund Medicaid, but it falls to the state to determine eligibility and administer the program. People covered include low-income parents and children, people who are blind or disabled, young adults who have aged out of foster care and immigrants. You must be a U.S. citizen or an immigrant who has lived in the U.S. with legal permanent resident status for at least five years, but if you don't have that, your children could still be eligible. Between the lines: Adults aged 19-64 whose income is up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or about $1,366 a month, and couples whose income is about $1,845 a month, are especially vulnerable to cuts. That's because this group has Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act, and the resolution would eliminate the ACA's 90% federal match to states, according to an analysis by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. What they're saying: "We're fighting cuts when we really should be figuring out how to increase funding for these services that, in both the short and the long term, really save money," Mark Ishaug, head of Thresholds, told Axios. Thresholds serves nearly 10,000 people in Illinois with mental illnesses and substance use conditions and about half of their $130 million annual budget is through Medicaid. Ishaug says preventative care provided by Medicaid keeps "people out of nursing homes, people out of the hospital and the emergency rooms, out of long term care, and just as importantly, out of jail and prison." "I have always said in my career that budgets, public budgets, nonprofit budgets, these are moral documents," Ishaug said. "What came out of the House last week was immoral." Zoom in: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was in Washington, D.C., and on national TV last week detailing how cuts would affect Illinois, including damages to the economy. Pritzker's office said Illinois' health care systems, most of which serve Medicaid enrollees, generate about $117 billion for the state each year. The other side: Illinois Republican U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood said he voted for the resolution because "it serves as the blueprint for extending President Trump's historic tax cuts, securing our southern border, bolstering our military, unleashing American energy, and setting us on a path toward responsible government spending for future generations." "The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created the best economy in my lifetime, yet many of the important changes made to the tax code expire at the end of this year. This would result in a massive tax increase on small businesses and working families — we cannot allow this to happen." What's next: The resolution now goes to the Senate for a vote but it's unclear when that will happen.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Illinois politicians say federal funding freeze has already caused harm
The Brief A White House memo rescinding previous guidance has not fully ended the uncertainty over a federal funding freeze. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi said the freeze disrupted key programs, including Medicaid and food assistance. A federal judge has kept a temporary halt on the funding freeze as legal challenges continue. CHICAGO - Illinois lawmakers are voicing strong concerns after the Trump administration's federal funding freeze created widespread confusion and disruptions to critical services. While the White House appeared to walk back its decision, conflicting messages from officials have left uncertainty about the future of the freeze and its impact on essential programs. What we know The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a brief memo stating that Monday's guidance on the funding freeze had been rescinded. However, shortly after, the White House press secretary clarified on X that the administration was not reversing the freeze, only rescinding the OMB memo. This led a federal judge to extend a temporary halt on the funding freeze while courts determine its legality. Despite the administration's claims that essential programs would be unaffected, many providers reported immediate consequences. Mark Ishaug, president of the nonprofit Thresholds, which offers housing, unemployment, substance abuse, and mental health services, said the freeze had already cost his organization $1 million. Ishaug says the system is now back online, but Illinois Senator Dick Durbin added the damage is already done. What they're saying Durbin criticized the administration's handling of the freeze, calling it a chaotic and harmful misstep. "The administration tried to reverse itself maybe and didn't get the job done," Durbin said. "They had conflicting reports on two different agencies." Durbin also emphasized the real-world consequences of the freeze, particularly in medical research and social services. "I understand he's a new president, they're new on the job … but to do this at the expense of medical research … you gotta say to yourself you're hurting a lot of innocent people while you're getting your act together," Durbin said. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) echoed these concerns, arguing that key safety net programs were directly affected, which impacted low-income residents. "Besides Medicaid, we had Head Start being affected, we had Meals on Wheels and we had food stamps," Krishnamoorthi said. "Every program you could think of was affected recklessly." The other side The Trump administration has defended the funding pause, arguing it was intended to prevent spending on initiatives they oppose, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and abortion-related services. The administration has framed the freeze as an effort to cut back on what they call "woke gender ideology" and other policies they believe are unnecessary. What's next With a federal judge keeping the temporary block in place, the legal battle over the funding freeze is expected to continue. Democrats have pointed to the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, which requires the executive branch to spend funds allocated by Congress with few exceptions. The coming weeks will determine whether the Trump administration's efforts to reshape federal spending will hold up in court—or face further pushback from lawmakers and service providers.
