Center finds other funds

by Katy Knapp

Daily Lobo

At 17 years old, J.J. Stephens found himself living on the streets of Albuquerque.

Two years later, he thanked the staff of CASAA's drop-in clinic for keeping him alive.

"If it wasn't for them, I don't know where I'd be," he said. "Probably dead somewhere."

Stephens is just one of more than 400 clients The Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addictions at UNM say they have served in the past three years.

They announced Monday their plan to allow Life Link, a Santa Fe-based charity, to take over CASAA's drop-in clinic starting Oct. 1.

The center received a research grant three years ago, said Isela Roeder, senior program manager at CASAA. The grant contract expires Sept. 30, 2005, she said.

Roeder said the drop-in clinic received a grant of $1.8 million, which came out to $600,000 a year.

She said 26 percent of that amount went to facilities and administration at UNM.

"The rest broke down mostly to salaries," Roeder said.

The clinic also had a small budget for bus tokens and other supplies needed in the clinic.

"We didn't have a budget for things like toilet paper," she said. "But we made do."

Gino Caggiano, a public relations consultant for Life Link, said the center will be undergoing some changes when the transition is made.

He said they are looking to hire counselors, therapists and clinicians for the clients as well as some renovation of the building on 317 Washington Street.

"They know they want to fix it up," Caggiano said. "It looks run down and a little odd. Other than staffing and moving in there, things will change a little bit like all regimes do."

Stacia Brigham, another public relations consultant of Life Link, said there is no set budget for Life Link once they take over the drop-in clinic.

Jason Blankenship, manager of CASAA, said the program did not run out of money, the contract just expired. The idea to turn the clinic over to Life Link came about a year ago, he said.

Blankenship said they wanted to continue the good work they had been doing when their contract ran out.

"We wondered what to do next," he said. "We had some contacts at Life Link and they do excellent work."

Steve Carr, a spokesman for UNM, said the CASAA research center at UNM isn't going anywhere - just the drop-in clinic is changing hands.

Carol Luna-Anderson, executive director of Life Link, said transitioning from a CASAA-run clinic to Life Link will be difficult but rewarding.

"I want to continue to do the wonderful work that CASAA has done," she said. "When you do a good project, you don't just want it to stop."

Luna-Anderson said helping homeless and runaway youths get GEDs and find jobs is important for their self-esteem.

"We identify ourselves with where we live and what our job is," she said. "When you don't have that, it's like a piece of your life is missing."

As for Stephens, he spends the night with friends when his dad won't let him stay at his house. The clinic has become like a home to him, he said, and he drops in to let the staff help him do his laundry or give him food.

"If I ever feel in danger or feel unsafe, I just come here," he said.