Tom McLaughlin's research is noted in Bangor Daily News editorial on scapegoating the poor

Research by Thomas Chalmers McLaughlin, Ph.D., UNE professor of social work, was noted in a Dec. 19, 2012 Bangor Daily News editorial titled "Shame on Maine leaders for scapegoating the poor."

The editorial cites a number of studies to argue that there is no evidence that welfare recipients move to Maine from other states for better benefits or that recipients are on welfare because they are "lazy."

The editorial states: "In a report of preliminary findings from an analysis of long-term General Assistance recipients, University of New England researcher Tom McLaughlin, who also worked on the 2010 TANF survey, reported in September to the General Assistance working group that 80 percent of those surveyed had worked within the past five years. Both studies identified health problems, either suffered by recipients or their children, as major barriers to independence. The General Assistance study indicated that 90 percent of respondents suffered from adverse childhood experiences such as homelessness, hunger, abuse or lack of medical care." Read the editorial.

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The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.