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that finds ways to minimize the different categories of funding. She said that preventive <br /> and pro-active services are hard to fund. There should be coordination of services and <br /> communication between entities about families and children. Usually, there is substance <br /> abuse involved with these families. <br /> Mental Health <br /> Melanie said that she works at Club Nova. She said that continuation of <br /> programs like Club Nova that provide multiple levels of support receive multiple checks. <br /> Also, affordable, decent housing was one of the things discussed in this group. They <br /> talked about getting people out of institutions like family care homes and rest homes. <br /> The third issue is a drop—in hub center for clients, which could direct clients to the <br /> services that they need and advocate for clients. This could be a separate entity from <br /> OPC. <br /> Services for the Hispanic, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing Community <br /> Gwen Colman, parent of a deaf child, spoke for this group. She said that these <br /> groups have a hard time accessing services due to communication problems. All <br /> services should be available to the Hispanic and should not be limited because they are <br /> Hispanic. There is a workload issue because there are not enough <br /> interpreter/translators. There needs to be enhanced education and training for cultural <br /> sensitivity in working with these populations. Translators need to be paid for their <br /> services. The two big issues are the new growth in the Hispanic community and a stable <br /> deaf population that needs to know what services are available. <br /> Chair Jacobs welcomed any questions. <br /> Ms. Speaker asked about reducing administrative costs. She said that if all of <br /> the services split off into small non-profits, the cost of services would skyrocket. She <br /> said that they already get economical services from OPC and it works. <br /> Judge Buckner said that one of the problems that OPC has is the inability to <br /> serve everyone and that they cannot be out there to fix everyone's problems. He said <br /> that the courts are committed to helping also. <br /> Vickie Shea said that there is support for OPC in the community but people want <br /> more. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that the County Commissioners are proud of OPC and our <br /> staff. He said that in Orange County, we are committed to making sure that no one is <br /> left behind. Tomorrow night there will be a Board of County Commissioners' work <br /> session and they will be discussing the next steps on mental health reform. Also, in <br /> another room in this building the Affordable Housing Advisory Board was meeting and <br /> Orange County has $4 million in bond monies to start to provide more affordable <br /> housing. He knows that single room occupancy and rental units are the highest priorities <br /> in this year's funding cycle. <br /> Commissioner Gordon thanked everyone for coming tonight and she hopes they <br /> will continue to come out and to give support. <br /> Commissioner Halkiotis said that the information on the flip charts in the groups <br /> really captures the concerns of this County. He spoke about where he came from in <br /> Massachusetts and the poor farms. He saw that one of the concerns was getting people <br /> out of rest homes and he said that he hopes people do not end up in rest homes in the <br /> first place. He said that we should have the courage to stand up to a bureaucracy and <br /> insist that the bureaucracy has to go out to the people and not sit behind a desk and wait <br /> for the people to come to them. These people need follow up. He said that one of the <br />