November 2018


A Grateful Reflection of Our Government                  
 
Gary Weisman, our former Board Chair, coined the phrase that the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is the community's "social utility."  If you think about the definition of a utility being an essential, public service, you may consider such things as power, water or garbage collection.  But, think about the essential public services offered by the Crisis Center: information and referral, sexual assault services, ambulance transportation, acute suicide prevention and intervention.  These services would be provided by government if not offered by the Crisis Center.  So with that in mind, consider the important role our government plays as our community approaches several significant events this month:  Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving and one of the most impactful election cycle's in our nation's history.   
 
Supporting veterans is an essential governmental function.  As we are all aware, the Veteran's Administration is one of the largest governmental agencies in the nation.  The VA is responsible for the health of over 9 million veterans.  In Florida, there are over 1.5 million veterans, but only 42% are enrolled in the VA.  The Crisis Center is the social utility that is contracted by the government to cover the remaining 58%!  We are so excited that the VA and DCF are funding the Crisis Center and our state wide 2-1-1 partners to expand the Veteran's Support Line and 1-844-MYFLVET.  Without this type of governmental partnership, veterans would continue to struggle and not get the help they need.  However, we know that even more needs to be done especially in light of the recent tragedy in California is a stark reminder that our country's veterans continue to need our help and support.
 
November 6th had significant meaning for our government.  It has been decades since an election held so much meaning.  No matter which side of the aisle you stand, the election created both excitement and anxiety.  It is during these anxious, political times that the Crisis Center is able to support our citizens by providing a safe, confidential place to call when the stress of politics becomes toxic. 
 
Finally, our national holiday, Thanksgiving, is an important time for us all to reflect on how much we have and how grateful and lucky we are as a nation.  Despite our politics, we truly live in a great nation.  I am honored that the Crisis Center is able to partner with our local, state and federal government to ensure that no one has to face a crisis alone.  It is during this Thanksgiving season that I encourage us all to be grateful for our nation and the dedicated men and women who run our government. 
 
Wishing you a gratitude filled Thanksgiving, 
 
Clara