ETHAN tryng to replace federal budget cuts

ETHAN is losing in another way besides the weight loss program, but it's not a healthy thing for Jasper. The East Texas Health Access Network has lost more than half a million dollars in funding due to federal budget cuts.

"We depend on grants and donations," said executive director Carlene Womack. "Our records are audited annually and we always get a clean bill, and we keep our operating costs as low as possible, very low compared to most non-profit agencies, but we have a hard time competing with cities for grants."

Womack says she has tried to convince political leaders of the greater need for health services in rural areas where nothing else is available. But while they see that ETHAN may meet the needs of 10,000, the numbers of uninsured or under-insured in a city like Houston can be half a million people; those are the kinds of numbers that impress politicians.

ETHAN is a hub that coordinates health benefits from many public and private health agencies and faith-based organizations. They help meet the needs the elderly and lowincome people in Jasper, Newton, Sabine, San Augustine and Tyler counties.

They sponsor things like the mobile dental van because transportation to free clinics is more than many low-income people can manage.

Last year, ETHAN held a free medical camp that offered free health screening to all, regardless of income.

They have a low-cost optical program. They offer disease management counseling. They are currently helping seniors and those on disability insurance fill out tax forms for the economic stimulus payments.

Womack says the radio station WTXJ is planning to hold a telethon with the goal of raising $100,000 for ETHAN.

"We've managed to obtain some other grants and donations, but if we could raise another $100,000 that would help us save staff positions and keep our programs going," Womack said.