Editor's Note: This is part 9 of a multi-part series. This article completes the healthcare presentations, with the disability Advisory Council and SASS-SANE.

By Mary Alice Murphy

Patty West of the Disabilities Advisory Council presented the group's request.

"We are a volunteer group," West said. "We strive to promote equal access to the community for those with disabilities.

"We are developing a Disability Resource Center, which will be a safe place to meet for the kids," she continued. "It's just outside the Silver City Recreation Center. It will be a place for therapy, for training, for recreation, and will include a lending library of technology equipment for those who are disabled. If a family could not get to Albuquerque, they couldn't get the equipment."

She said she would get the capital outlay request form to the legislators.

"Silver City got the building for us, and the town will pay for the utilities and maintain it for us," West said. "Western New Mexico University will help with the assistive technology. We are asking for furniture and equipment. We have some items that have been donated, such as desks and cabinets, but we are asking for about $5,000 to $10,000 for each group to get the center open."

Representative-elect John Zimmerman asked if the request was for about $33,000.

"Because of the donations, we will need a little bit less," West said.

"Will Silver City be your fiscal agent?" Sen. Howie Morales asked to which West replied it would be.

"We need Silver City to submit the request from a process viewpoint," Morales said. " It's hard to get capital outlay for this small amount. It's usually a low limit of $50,000 in the House and $100,000 in the Senate.

Priscilla Lucero, Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments executive director, noted the request was not on the town's ICIP, so how to handle it might be a problem.

"Maybe the COG can be the fiscal agent without jeopardizing other projects," Morales suggested.

"We need to get on the agenda for the Town Council, and they can give us direction," Lucero said.

"Some of your estimates, I think are a little low, so maybe $50,000 might be reasonable," Zimmerman said.

Bob Rickle, Sexual Assault Support Services board member; Katherine Gauer, advocacy coordinator; and Stormie Flamm, Sexual Assault Nurse Services coordinator, presented the SASS-SANE requests.

"Our executive director resigned yesterday, so, because I've been on the board for a while, I am representing SASS," Rickle said.

"I've been the coordinator of the Gila Regional SANE program for three years," Flamm said. "The pediatric program is up and running. We do delayed and acute service. We have had 10 children and 11 adults through SANE this year so far.

"We have lots of partners," she continued. "At meetings, we put together protocols for first responders, we train medical office staff and in schools, so they can find out what we do. We have trained more than 100 people."

She said the program's training manuals are stored at the Health Council office. "We work closely with SASS. With the Prison Rape Elimination Act, we are working with the four counties, and helping to bring them up to handle their own responses."

"We have five nurses," Flamm said. "One male nurse wants to go to training, and so does another female nurse for pediatrics. We have a little bit of money for the pedes."

"We are asking for $53,000," Gauer said. "We are still doing our work, and we never have closed doors."

"SANE pays the lowest rate in the state," Rickle said. "We want the $53,000, with $30,000 to support a contract counselor; $3,000 for client services, and $20,000 for a men's program. This is a vital service and prevents mental health problems later."

"I had a concern at the time of the Act that most would be used in big cities," Morales said. "Are you getting your share?"

Rickle said he would provide the statistics.

"We always have fewer resources," Gauer noted.

"If it's not making its way to rural areas, I would like a breakdown of the funding," Morales said.

"I can get that breakdown," Flamm said. "We go to all four counties for outreach."

"Is there law enforcement training, so a victim is not a victim twice?" Morales asked.

"Our conference had classes for law enforcement and district attorneys," Flamm said. "Next month, there will be another training for law enforcement on how to address sexual assault."

Morales said: "The money goes to the Department of Health. We will have to have a piece of legislation drafted, so the money goes directly to SASS. I will work together with the House on that legislation."

"We can also get the state Sexual Assault Coalition to work with DOH," Flamm said.

Rickle announced that Kelly Reynolds is the SASS director-in-training.

"I thank you for the work you do," Zimmerman said. "My daughter is a nurse. New Mexico nurses are the lowest paid."

"It surprises many to see a male program," Morales said.

"The program includes other underserved groups, such as veterans," Gauer said.

Note: This article is taken directly from a transcript this writer is paid to deliver to the Prospectors each year for them to put the differently formatted information into the legislators' notebooks to be used during the legislative session and throughout the year.