[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1406-E1407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE WHITTIER-RIO HONDO AIDS PROJECT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ESTEBAN EDWARD TORRES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 30, 1996

  Mr. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Whittier-Rio 
Hondo AIDS Project [WRHAP], a benevolent undertaking with a noble 
cause.
  WRHAP, established in 1991, is dedicated to assisting adults and 
children who are living with HIV in southeastern Los Angeles County. 
Its founder and current executive director is Doris Wahl, whose son 
died of AIDS in August of 1989. Since then, she has selflessly 
dedicated enormous amounts of time and energy in providing services for 
individuals with HIV and AIDS.
  As much as a support group was necessary to help those with HIV, 
Doris and her staff realized that this was not enough. The members of 
the support group were in need of comprehensive HIV services, including 
case management, legal and psychological counseling. Prior to these 
efforts, services did not exist in the Whittier-Rio Hondo area.
  In 1992, WRHAP formalized as a task force allowing it to operate as a 
nonprofit organization, and in 1993 it became a nonprofit California 
corporation allowing it to be eligible for

[[Page E1407]]

grant funding to provide necessary services for clients. Currently, 
WRHAP provides intensive case management, resource referrals and crisis 
intervention to 50 individual and 20 family clients. Twenty-five 
percent of WRHAP's clientele are Spanish speakers, and all services are 
provided on Spanish, English, and sign language.
  The majority of WRHAP's support programs are staffed with volunteers. 
They provide respite care for the primary care givers of patients, form 
supportive friendships with the patients, or work with the staff in the 
office. Mental health care is provided on site once a week for clients 
and their families.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with pride that I rise to recognize the Whittier-
Rio Hondo AIDS Project for its ceaseless efforts to assist those with 
HIV and educate the community on the realities of AIDS. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing Doris Wahl and WRHAP for their 
invaluable contributions to our community.

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