[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 144 (Monday, October 12, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO THE HUNTER COLLEGE CENTER ON AIDS, DRUGS AND COMMUNITY 
                                 HEALTH

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                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 12, 1998

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Hunter 
College Center on AIDS, Drugs and Community Health, which will 
celebrate its tenth anniversary of promoting public health in New York 
City on Friday, October 16.
  The Hunter College Center on AIDS, Drugs and Community Health was 
created in 1987 to respond to the growing public health crises that 
were devastating New York City's low-income communities. Its mission is 
to assist the people and organizations in poor neighborhoods to respond 
more effectively to the threats to public health caused by HIV/AIDS, 
substance abuse, tuberculosis, violence and related conditions.
  Mr. Speaker, in the past ten years, the Center has provided direct 
services to more than 25,000 individuals, helped more than 75 community 
organizations create or strengthen health programs, trained more than 
5,000 health and social service professionals, and provided 
internships, courses or research placements to more than 2,000 students 
from Hunter and elsewhere.
  The Center has also received more than $17 million in grants and 
contracts from private foundations and public agencies and has in turn 
provided more than $500,000 directly to community organizations and 
neighborhood service providers to support their programs.
  While it is important, and appropriate, to recognize the caregivers 
who provide these services, it is even more important that those 
individuals who have made special efforts to overcome their challenges 
also receive our attention and support.
  As the Center enters its second decade, it has ambitious plans for 
the future. Beginning in 1998, with the support of the New York City 
Department of Health and in collaboration with the Hunter Center for 
Occupational and Environmental Health, the Center will provide 
training, assistance and evaluation support for a new citywide 
initiative against childhood asthma, which is a major problem in my 
congressional district.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in honoring the 
physicians, nurses, caseworkers, administrators, clerical workers, and 
all of the other caregivers and support staff of the Hunter College 
Center on AIDS, Drugs and Community Health for their outstanding 
efforts at this important milestone, and in wishing them continued 
success.




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