180 needs your help now

In this week’s Independent, you’ll read two stories about 180, Turning Lives Around (formerly the Women’s Center of Monmouth County).

The Hazlet-based nonprofit is the lone county agency that offers comprehensive services to domestic violence and sexual assault victims.

One story is about individuals who were honored at the recent 26th annual awards dinner honoring community partners. The other is about the dire straits the agency will be in if more state funding is cut.

While the one talks of all the agency has accomplished through its community partners, the other talks about the vital programs that could be lost if the state fails to provide adequate funding in its 2002-03 budget.

According to 180 Executive Director Anna Diaz-White, the agency is "looking at $253,000 just vanishing." They have already been told they would lose $100,000 which they cannot make up through fund raising, according to Diaz-White. That funding shortfall has resulted in the elimination of two rape care programs. One of the programs taught students how to protect themselves and the other provided sensitivity training to police officers who deal with drug-related sexual assault victims.

The deeper cut could result in the loss of the award-winning Amanda’s Easel art therapy program, toll-free hot lines and closure of a Neptune outreach office.

The state budget will not be approved until next month, which leaves ample opportunity to write to your legislators and the governor to let them know this funding is vital and how important the 180 center is to your community.