Nassau County is perhaps at its greatest crossroads. There was a time when not one day passed without a headline bemoaning the county's fiscal woes. Yet, time has passed and once again we have become complacent. All looks fine; the wounds appear to have healed. And now, every citizen over the age of 18 will soon have an opportunity to cast their vote for the future of our county.

But things are not fine; at least, not as it relates to the plight of the human services delivery system. Our county reduced funding to these systems in the amount of $8 million and, despite some discussion of a county budget surplus, never fully restored cuts to drug and alcohol programs, services to children and families, and services for those with mental health issues. The people affected by these cuts are your neighbors, your friends, your children and relatives. They are not strangers and they are certainly "essential" community members. Their needs and struggles must be addressed before their experiences become front page tragedies. Our county can only be as strong and healthy as those who reside here.

As we are reminded of the plight of our homeless children and families, children murdered by the hands of depressed mothers and lives destroyed by drunk drivers, we should remember that we, the people, have the power to prevent tragedy when we elect leaders who possess the vision to build and preserve a comprehensive human services system.

Jamie E. Bogenshutz, ACSW

Executive Director

YES Community Counseling Center