[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO FATHER MAC

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, I would like to bring attention to 
the outstanding work of Msgr. Ignatius McDermott and Haymarket House. 
It is my pleasure to inform you that in December, Haymarket celebrated 
its 20th anniversary. One of largest treatment and detoxification 
centers in Chicago and the Midwest, Haymarket is the culmination of one 
man's lifetime of education and devotion to helping the addicted.
  Haymarket was founded in December 1975, when ``Father Mac'' was in 
his early sixties. For the last 20 years they have made history, 
establishing programs for those no one else wishes to serve. The 
programs include Illinois' first non-medical detox center and Illinois' 
first sanctuary program for skid row alcoholics. These programs, along 
with the tireless efforts of Monsignor McDermott, have helped change 
attitudes about alcoholism and have helped establish it as a disease to 
be treated, rather than as a social problem.
  Through Haymarket, Father McDermott reached out to serve those 
ostracized by today's society. His goal--to serve the homeless, the 
chemically dependent, the substance abuser, the disadvantaged, and the 
unfortunate--is reached through the providing of shelter and care for 
these people and their families.
  When drug addicted infants enraged the public, Haymarket provided the 
first residential treatment program for drug-addicted pregnant women. 
This was at a time when those providing treatment were more concerned 
with liability issues than with the treatment of these women. Since it 
began, the Maternal Addiction Center [MAC] has delivered 350 drug-free 
babies. Haymarket, along with Maryville Academy, has also established 
Illinois' first residential treatment program for postpartum women who 
have delivered drug-addicted babies.
  Haymarket currently runs 28 programs and has served over 13,000 
clients. Their unique program is centered around the idea that to 
achieve long-term recovery the whole person must be addressed. They 
believe that without a continuum of care, people are more likely to 
relapse. This continuum brings together drug abuse prevention and 
treatment, health services, day care, parent training, vocational 
education, and job placement. These services help the center improve 
the prevention and treatment services and increase the savings to 
taxpayers associated with these services.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in commending Father Mac and 
Haymarket for their continued commitment to the services they provide. 
I extend to my colleagues an invitation to visit Haymarket when they 
visit the Chicago area.

                          ____________________