Maine hope program

Four-year programs can be in in health care, technology or engineering. It helps Mainers learn new skills by providing them with a free education in programs that lead to certificates or degrees in certain fields. The grant may also pay for other supports while a participant is in training, including childcare, transportation, books, supplies, equipment, and remedial and prerequisite training.

The program focuses on high-paying, in-demand jobs in Maine. More than , fatal overdoses last year alone. Here's the good part. This morning, we're going to turn to a surprising and hopeful part of the story. Research shows most people with substance use disorder survive and heal. Even after using hard drugs for long periods of time, many people recover to lead good, full lives. NPR's addiction correspondent Brian Mann reports.

In fact, it has millions and millions of happy endings. But to get there, we have to start in a pretty bleak place. And that just took me for a total downward spiral. She's a Black woman who lives in Laurel, Md. She dropped out of college, wound up incarcerated. The next decade was hell for her and her family, who often didn't know if she was alive or dead. She'd call my sister and say, hey, you need to call. I haven't heard from Anna. He's a white guy who lives in Plattsburgh in upstate New York.

Struggled with that for 10, 11 years, time I'll never get back. MANN: Rasco hit bottom over and over, overdosing twice. Like Anna Mabel-Jones, he kept trying to stop and kept relapsing. Like, you know, I wanted to quit, I just couldn't, you know? I would get emotional before I would use, you know? Like, I don't want to do this, but I can't not do this. MANN: This is what a lot of us see when we think of people with substance use disorder, overdoses and deaths, drug crime, people slumped in doorways.

We think of our own family members doing painful, ugly things because of their addiction. But a growing body of research, including a national study published by a team at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, shows this isn't a complete or accurate picture. MANN: Dr. Their peer-reviewed study, published last year, found more than 20 million Americans are living now in recovery. After screening is complete the individual will be set up with a volunteer Angel to help with the placement process.

A Volunteer Angel is a community volunteer who will come to the police department and assist the individual suffering from substance abuse disorder with placement or outside referrals if placement becomes impossible. TANF provides cash assistance to families while they work towards becoming self-sufficient. Once enrolled in TANF you may also be eligible for help receiving job training and education. The My Maine Connection portal also offers a prescreening tool that can help you find out if you may be eligible.

Option 1: Apply online through My Maine Connection.