[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CELEBRATING THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF VALLE DEL SOL, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ED PASTOR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2005

  Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to celebrate the 
35th Anniversary of Valle del Sol, Inc., a nonprofit, community-based 
organization in Phoenix, Arizona which has helped thousands of 
individuals each year through its extensive behavioral health and 
social services.
  Valle del Sol was created in 1970, at a time when behavioral health 
services in Phoenix were nearly non-existent for Latino families. The 
organization was originally established to address opiate addiction in 
the community, and although it has expanded its services over the 
years, Valle del Sol has always maintained its commitment to providing 
bilingual and culturally relevant services for the Latino community.
  As one of the largest Hispanic behavioral health and social service 
organizations in Maricopa County, Valle del Sol's culturally diverse, 
bilingual staff provides a wide range of programs and services for the 
entire family. These programs are designed to address the increasing 
social and community needs related to family and behavioral health 
problems, and include counseling, substance abuse treatment, adult 
education, advocacy, services for seniors, and an adolescent 
therapeutic group home. Valle del Sol's commitment to excellence in 
customer service, financial viability, planned growth, and community 
development in Arizona has positively contributed not only to Latino 
families, but to the entire Arizona community. I am particularly proud 
of Valle del Sol's achievements in becoming an $11 million agency with 
nearly 200 employees.
  Valle del Sol has been instrumental in providing a base of leadership 
for the Latino community. Many Latino leaders in Arizona, including 
myself, have served on Valle del Sol's Board of Directors, or have 
attended Valle del Sol's Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI). HLI has 
provided leadership training for over 18 years and is offered to 
community members who are dedicated to addressing Latino issues. Under 
HLI training, participants gain a comprehensive understanding of issues 
affecting the Latino community, as well as practical leadership skills. 
The goal of HLI is to arm leaders with the valuable tools to 
effectively advocate for issues important to the Latino community.
  I would like especially to acknowledge Valle del Sol's current 
leadership, headed by President and CEO Luz Sarmina-Gutierrez. Ms. 
Sarmina-Gutierrez's efforts to maintain Valle del Sol's high quality of 
service was duly recognized, and Valle del Sol was awarded 
accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation 
Facilities (CARF) for four of its programs that specialize in substance 
abuse and mental health. This accreditation is the highest achievement 
an organization can receive from CARF and is the second time a three-
year accreditation was awarded to Valle del Sol. The CARF accreditation 
demonstrates to the public that Valle del Sol's services meet stringent 
standards in following with its polices, procedures and practices, 
including health and safety standards.
  Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honoring and 
congratulating Valle del Sol, its leadership, and its employees upon 
the celebration of its 35th Anniversary. It is with great pride that I 
celebrate Valle del Sol's outstanding contributions to the Arizona 
community and its unwavering commitment to public service, and I wish 
them many more years of success.

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