June 26, 2025
Dear Friends and Supporters,
It is with heavy hearts that we share difficult news that will impact the lives of many women and children we serve. Due to a significant reduction in state-administered federal funding from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for substance use disorder treatment, Santa Maria is facing an unprecedented $15 million reduction in funding over the next five years.
As a result, we are making the heartbreaking announcement that, effective September 1, 2025, we will be closing our Jacquelyn treatment location and detox unit – and reducing our workforce by the equivalent of 40 full-time employees, which represents a 21% reduction in our workforce. This decision was not made lightly. We are grieving the loss of critical services, safe beds, and healing opportunities for countless women and their children.
Our Jacquelyn site has been a place of hope, recovery, and transformation for so many families since 2002 -and we hold deep compassion for those affected by this closure, including the dedicated staff who have poured their hearts into this work.
Specifically, this funding made possible residential, detox, and outpatient treatment for uninsured women and their children. Santa Maria will continue to provide residential and outpatient substance use disorder treatment for adult women, pregnant women, and women with children at 60% of our previous capacity by relocating treatment and recovery housing beds from Jacquelyn to our main location, Bonita House.
These funding cuts do not impact our Integrated Care Clinic (I-Care), Recovery Housing programs, Survivors of Sex Trafficking (STARS), Peer Recovery Support Services, Caring for Two, Bambi, Prevention, and our Austin services. These programs and services will continue to operate at full capacity.
We remain committed to our mission to empower women and their families to lead healthy, productive, and self-fulfilling lives. As we realign our operations, we will continue to serve with integrity, compassion, and the unwavering belief that recovery is possible—no matter the challenge. We are actively exploring partnerships, alternative funding sources, and innovative program models to sustain and expand our impact in the months and years ahead.
We know that the road ahead will require resilience and the support of our community. To our donors, partners, and advocates—thank you. Your continued belief in our mission is more vital than ever.
As we move forward, we do so with clarity, resolve and the unshakable conviction that every woman and child deserve a chance to heal and thrive.
Santa Maria’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Vaughan Gilmore, LCSW-S and LCDC has been selected to serve as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer. Vaughan has served as Santa Maria’s Chief Clinical Officer for more than three years, leading the oversight and development of program services, quality initiatives and training both staff and interns. Under her guidance Santa Maria has improved the quality, efficiency and effectiveness in delivering treatment services.
On April 16, 2024, more than 100 of Santa Maria’s dedicated supporters gathered at this annual fundraiser celebrating the thousands of women and families whose lives are transformed via Santa Maria’s work. The event was held at Station3, a historic Houston fire station now used as a unique event venue. A fitting place to celebrate Santa Maria who has been serving women and their families in Houston for more than 65 years.
