Kaine needs informed advisors

During my high school years in the 1960s, the United Way held a contest called the Miss Red Feather contest. Any young lady was eligible to write an essay on one of the civic organizations she would like to represent in this contest. I chose the Mental Health Organization. During my life I had been exposed to individuals who were challenged and I could see their plight even then, as well as their families’.

I was chosen to represent this organization and went on to represent them in different venues. My point is, their numbers and circumstances continue to grow – what has changed is the help now available to them and their families. Facilities such as the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents (“Proposed closures worry parents with children in need,” Jan. 24) should most definitely not be closed.

If anything, we should bolster what is there with more professionals and more education for the public to be more aware – the places are not too different from nursing homes. We have them but no one wants to talk about them unless you are directly involved.

I would ask Gov. Timothy M. Kaine to form a committee of advisors who have direct and hands-on knowledge of the situation faced by parents and families of these young people. I am not talking about studies and percentages by learned individuals, but honest-to-God, hands-on knowledge. Until you have walked in their shoes and faced their problems, I suggest you hold off on closing until you form that committee.

Joan Martin

Waynesboro