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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 5, 2002)
apnl 5.2002 » rmTTÏÏTRTlnews 15 W ith a L ittle H elp F rom H er F riends Center will assist disabled, mentally ill and queer communities in Corvallis by H eath er aria Carter always has felt she could do more. The 36-year-old aligns herself with many causes in the Corvallis area. She volunteers with the Democratic Party as well as AFTER 8, a politi cal advocacy and educational organization serv ing Linn and Benton counties. She has cerebral palsy, is mentally ill and identifies as bisexual, so she feels connected to a lot of issues. After winning a $6,000 grant from the YOUR WILLAMETTE VALLEY FAMILY REAL ESTATE CONNECTION H ybarger bn ? I support G A L A chorusesl Plan members with the collaboration of mental health departments. In addition, the alliance has a provider panel of about 75 contracted behavioral health therapists and 11 hospitals to ensure clients receive the most clinically appropriate services. The grant money comes from a fund the alliance has set up for use by consumers or organizations benefiting Oregon Health Plan members in need of mental health services. “I will give her technical assistance in the use of the grant money because there are govern- Contact Clark to list your upcoming G A L A C horus Event (Free public service provided by Clark) B ryan t Koalty ' IOC- i ( 5 4 1 ) 7 5 8 - 1 2 3 4 x 21 1 CLARK HOUSE Sales Associate e-mail: clarkshouses@aol.com — — — ................... I T Ä lK ,' V:*:? 1575 MW 9th Street • Corvallis. OR 97330 HHI egon Camera Everything Photographic Despite her mental illness, Carla Carter has been the driving force behind the advocacy and resource center We have a know ledgeable, friendly staff helping you find the right cam era, binoculars, or photographic accessories. ju Y ^ 4 T t E ^ In c. Boarding & Groom ing lor D ogs & Cats A ‘fam ily’ owned and operated business since 1997. “Individual Love and Attention " 720 SW Wake Robin Ave Corvallis, O R 97330 (541) 757-9089 Larry & Marlene McNeill 582 SW Adams Avenue Corvallis, OR 97333 www.oregoncamera.com (541) 753-2653 H3H1V3H A8 O lO H d Accountable Behavioral Health Alliance, Carter is realizing her dream of doing more by starting an advocacy center. It will ftxzus on the rights of the developmental^ disabled, mentally ill and sexual minorities communities. “1 see injustice,” Carter says simply. “1 see kids picking on people, see it in the housing where they discriminate, I sec it in budget cuts and the closing of hospitals.” The facility will he known as Carters Advo cacy and Resource Center. When it opens in May, she will have a referral service in place and will use her organization to provide visibility, information and a little muscle for the issues she feels passionately about. “In the last five years the media has had a dif ferent take on gay and lesbian issues,” she says. “ I think the same thing needs to happen with the other groups.” Carter hopes to correct misinformation and provide other social, advisory and policymaking organizations with representatives from her communities. The center also will he home to social outlets for developmentally disabled, mentally ill, gay and lesbian people in the area. To do all this Carter has the support of her board of directors, volunteers and the Account able Behavioral Health Alliance. Although her focus seems broad, an agency spokesman says the union makes sense. “By bridging different groups that are tradi tionally underrepresented, she has economized the system,” says Cory VanAlstine, consumer affairs specialist. “ It is advanced in that she is multidimensionally looking at these issues.” The alliance is an intergovernmental organiza tion formed by Benton, Crook, Deschutes, Jeffer son and Lincoln counties. Its purptise is to manage the behavioral health care needs of Oregon Health mental rules she has to follow,” VanAlstine says. “We are hands-off, though, and we try to ensure the success of her business by helping her when she asks for it.” In fact, everyone who has worked with Carter on this project is quick to say she is the driving force, the organizer and the brains of the center. “If you kx)k at Carlas exterior you could jump to some conclusions," hoard member Julie Williams says. “Her brain is sharp as a whip. The cool thing about Carla is that she wants to do advocacy from the inside.” Carter has encountered problems with the system firsthand. Her experience in a group home ended with her leaving the facility with no notice. Carter says the assigned caseworker was never there for the residents and didn’t seemed to care about what happened to them. “Carla gets just enough money [from the government] to just make it, buying her meds and living in her apartment," Williams says. “She’s trying to take care of her people, and she’s one of the people that could use a little help." Carter doesn’t seem to mind offering herself as an educational tixtl for others. “I wouldn’t know how that population lives if I didn’t know Carla,” Williams says. “I think Carla is one heck of a role mixJel.’ ’ in C arter ’ s A d w c a cy and R esource C enter is lixated in Suite 102 of the Btnvlby Building, 310 N.W. Fifth S t., and can he reached by calling 5 4 1 -754-4254 or e-mailmg cmd@peak.org. To get it off the ground, donatums are requested of money, time, adi’crasing, office furniture and equipment as well as books on human rights. HEATHER H ybarger is a mild-mannered PR per son by day and a Cosmic Bowling fanatic by night. OVER NET INVOICE Invoice = Invoice, minus denier holdback, minus any advertising fees, minus any m unufartuter to dealer rebates or incentives. O N ALL L FORESTERS _ Art lor ill ti>t i siiioit only • Subject K* pnoi vale I Sices do not include license, title i* tit* tecs I Vices expire Monday fnHowring publication dale All financing on approved credit. H o u rs M o n - F ri 8 - 9 S a t 9 - 7 Sun 1 0 - 5 J u s t o ff 1-5 on M issio n St. 25th & Mission, SALEM 503*316*4294 © Oregon drives G4PHOL w w w .c g p it o ls u b a r u .c o m I
