The following e-mail was forwarded to me by a friend. El Futuro works to help Latinos with mental health issues, it seems like an important program deserving of our support. Please take a moment to contact your favorite commissioner and ask that they restore funding.
Last night, the Orange County commissioners tentatively nixed $60,000 that had been approved by their subcommittee for El Futuro ( http://elfuturo-nc.org if you're not familiar with the organization).
Please please please send the commissioners an email TODAY --their meeting is tonight-- protesting this decision. Based on a conversation one of our board members had with an OC commissioner, there is still a chance to restore at least part of this funding if we can get people to object.
El Futuro is an amazing non-profit organization that serves a population that otherwise would be ignored.
Below is the email I sent each of the commissioners -- feel free to copy it.
Thanks, GillamDear Commissioner,
I wanted to write you a quick note to tell you how disappointed I am to hear that the county manager's commission's recommendation to fund the mental health organization El Futuro ( http://elfuturo-nc.org ) was shelved by the commissioners.
El Futuro is a non-profit medical clinic whose primary mission is to provide best-practice mental health care and substance abuse counseling to Spanish speaking individuals. The clinic is truly unique in NC ... there is no other non-profit organization that provides these services in a bicultural, bilingual environment. El Futuro is a safety net organization; without it, there is literally nowhere this population can turn for help.
In addition to providing clinical services to over 1000 people in 2007, the organization served as a UNC/AHEC-approved training site for psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatric family nurse practitioners. In this way, the organization works with those who are currently in need while also preparing professionals to work with those who will need services in the future. (Indeed, El Futuro means "the future" in Spanish).
El Futuro's reputation in both the Latino community and amongst mental health professionals is unparalleled.
I am sure you can appreciate how important it is to continue to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment for this growing portion of our community. I therefore urge you to please reconsider restoring at least part of this critical funding to this unique community resource.
Regards,
Gillam Hall
The Commisioners' contact information is at http://www.co.orange.nc.us/elect/county.asp. I am looking for more information about this agenda item and will post if I find anything in time.
Issues:
Comments
Correction
El Futuro funding
I work with El Futuro and can attest to the great work being done. Today, 26 people were seen. Tomorrow, another 25+ will come to El Futuro for help. With Caring Family Network closing its doors recently, the mental health and substance abuse resources and infrastructure in Orange County is dwindling. Indeed, mental health was a glaring need in the county's needs assessment as is the need for bilingual providers. El Futuro not only provides services but also is a vital training ground for future professionals... many of whom stay here to serve our residents. I hope the commissioners will value El Futuro with a reversal of this unfortunate decision. -- Luke Smith, MD
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