1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 852
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to
 1-4     recognize the vital work that El Centro del Barrio performs for
 1-5     underprivileged and ailing Texans; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, For 25 years, El Centro del Barrio, a nonprofit
 1-7     organization, has strived to meet the dire needs of special
 1-8     communities in Bexar County; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, El Centro del Barrio offers its services to
1-10     all Bexar County inhabitants, but it is particularly concerned
1-11     with low-income residents who are uninsured; homeless children,
1-12     families, and single adults; abused and neglected children;
1-13     abused and neglected elders; disabled persons; and adults with
1-14     HIV infection; through its design of intervention programs, this
1-15     organization has helped alleviate potentially grave situations in
1-16     the community; and
1-17           WHEREAS, One example of El Centro del Barrio's success is
1-18     its establishment in 1979 of a federally funded community health
1-19     center, which has aided the impoverished and medically deprived
1-20     population in southwestern San Antonio; over the years, El Centro
1-21     del Barrio has been able to provide comprehensive service at its
1-22     health center by offering a Women, Infants, and Children program,
1-23     providing family planning services, and expanding a mental health
1-24     program; in April, 1993, the agency established numerous other
 2-1     health care facilities to aid the region's medically underserved
 2-2     areas; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, In addition to its health center, El Centro
 2-4     del Barrio has established the following:  a health care program
 2-5     for the homeless; an early intervention program for HIV persons
 2-6     which provides them with primary care and counseling services; a
 2-7     shelter for the elderly and disabled who have been neglected; a
 2-8     program which provides rehabilitative nursing and social services
 2-9     to the vulnerable and frail elderly and disabled; an activity
2-10     center for the elderly which helps them maintain ties with the
2-11     community; and a student health center which serves the San Antonio
2-12     Independent School District; and
2-13           WHEREAS, Buoyed by the positive impact it has made
2-14     in Bexar County, El Centro del Barrio continues to thrive;
2-15     its capable leaders and staff ensure the organization's
2-16     professionalism, integrity, and fiscal health; those who have
2-17     made El Centro del Barrio successful possess an acute sensitivity
2-18     to the plight of the poor and the suffering; but what is more, they
2-19     have the ability to mobilize and coordinate the myriad resources
2-20     necessary to improve the quality of life for our most needy Texans;
2-21     now, therefore, be it
2-22           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-23     76th Legislature, hereby honor the more than 25 years of service
2-24     El Centro del Barrio has performed for the underprivileged in
2-25     Bexar County; and, be it further
2-26           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an
 3-1     expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
 3-2                                                                   Madla
 3-3                                  ______________________________________
 3-4                                          President of the Senate
 3-5                                       I hereby certify that the above
 3-6                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
 3-7                                  on May 5, 1999.
 3-8                                  ______________________________________
 3-9                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-10                                  ______________________________________
3-11                                           Member, Texas Senate