Report on the Impending Closure of the Joshua Stevens Recovery Community Center and its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

The Joshua Stevens Recovery Community Center, a critical facility operated by the non-profit An Angel’s Wing in Lewiston, faces imminent closure by September. This is due to a significant funding deficit following a decision by the Lewiston Area Public Health Committee to redirect its opioid settlement funds. The center’s closure poses a direct threat to the region’s progress toward several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), by eliminating essential support services for individuals recovering from substance abuse.

2.0 Background and Financial Status

The Joshua Stevens Recovery Community Center is the sole facility of its kind serving the Lewiston-Auburn area. It provides vital local resources and support for community members struggling with substance abuse, contributing directly to local health and social stability.

• Operational History: Opened in 2024.
• Community Reach: Assisted approximately 200 individuals since its inception.
• Annual Budget: Operated on a $37,500 budget in the previous year.
• Funding Shortfall: The center must raise approximately $25,000 to prevent closure.

The funding crisis emerged after the Lewiston Area Public Health Committee, the center’s primary funding source, declined to renew its support from the opioid settlement fund, opting to finance different organizations for the current year. This breakdown in public-private partnership undermines the collaborative spirit required for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

3.0 Analysis of Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The potential closure of the recovery center represents a significant setback for the advancement of several SDGs within the Lewiston-Auburn community.

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   The center’s work is in direct alignment with SDG Target 3.5, which aims to “strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.” As the only recovery community center in the area, its closure would create a critical gap in the “full continuum of care,” removing what Executive Director Debra York describes as a “big piece of that puzzle” and leaving a vulnerable population without access to essential health support services.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   Substance abuse disorders often disproportionately affect marginalized and vulnerable groups. By providing free and accessible resources, the center works to mitigate these disparities. Its closure would exacerbate inequality by removing a crucial support system, limiting access to recovery pathways for those with the fewest resources.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   A key component of a sustainable and inclusive community is the provision of essential social and health infrastructure. The recovery center is a vital piece of this infrastructure, contributing to community safety, health, and resilience. Losing this facility weakens the community’s ability to support its residents and build a truly sustainable urban environment.

4.0 Conclusion and Recommendations

The impending closure of the Joshua Stevens Recovery Community Center highlights a critical failure in securing sustainable funding for essential health services. This directly jeopardizes the well-being of approximately 200 community members and reverses local progress on SDGs 3, 10, and 11. While short-term fundraising efforts are underway via the An Angel’s Wing website, a long-term, collaborative funding strategy involving public and private stakeholders is imperative to ensure the continuity of services that are fundamental to building a healthy, equitable, and sustainable community.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This is the primary SDG addressed in the article. The text focuses on the Joshua Stevens Recovery Community Center, an organization that provides resources and support for individuals struggling with substance abuse. The center’s work is a direct effort to improve public health and well-being within the Lewiston-Auburn community. The potential closure of this facility due to funding issues represents a direct threat to the health infrastructure and support systems for a vulnerable population, which is a core concern of SDG 3.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.

   The article directly relates to this target. The Joshua Stevens Recovery Community Center is explicitly described as providing “local resources to those struggling with substance abuse” and being a critical “piece of the puzzle” in the “full continuum of care.” Its entire purpose is to provide treatment and rehabilitation services, which is the central theme of Target 3.5. The city’s use of an “opioid settlement fund” further links the issue to the treatment of narcotic drug abuse.

2. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

   This target is relevant as substance use disorders are often classified as chronic, non-communicable health conditions and are closely linked with mental health. The recovery center’s role in providing support and care contributes to promoting the mental health and well-being of its 200 members. By offering a support system, the center helps prevent the severe health consequences and premature mortality associated with untreated substance abuse.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 3.5 (Coverage of treatment interventions for substance use disorders)

  The article provides specific data points that can serve as local-level indicators for treatment coverage:

  • Number of people receiving services: The article states the center has “helped around 200 members of the Lewiston-Auburn community since opening last year.” This number is a direct measure of the reach and coverage of the rehabilitation and aftercare services provided by this specific facility.
  • Availability of treatment facilities: The article notes that the center is the “only recovery community center in the Lewiston-Auburn area.” The existence (or lack thereof) of such facilities is a key indicator of a community’s capacity to provide treatment. Its potential closure would reduce this indicator to zero for this type of service in the area.
  • Financial support for services: The article details the center’s budget ($37,500), the funding it received from the city’s opioid settlement fund ($10,000), and the current funding gap ($25,000). This financial data serves as an indicator of the level of public and institutional investment in substance abuse treatment services.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators’ to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: spectrumlocalnews.com