19 Jan 2016 – Free At Last (FAL) has a lot to look forward to in 2016. FAL has a new website and it has been made possible in part by a grant from the Community Opportunity Fund grant making strategy of Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Diligently worked into shape by Arturo Samayoa at Nimbus Designs, the FAL website at freeatlast.org has finally received a long overdue makeover. Sue Cortopassi, FAL’s current CEO, is extremely happy with the outcome. “This new site will help us share client success stories and the good work we are doing for the under-served populations in and around East Palo Alto. It will help FAL revitalize past relationships and develop new ones.” She shares, with a gleam in her eye.
When asked why this was so important to FAL, she clarifies the need to diversify FAL’s funding base as part of long-term financial sustainability. She also highlights the need for staff development resources and her hope to pay above minimum wage to mentor her staff. In Silicon Valley today, with its highly marked up living expenses, minimum wage is indeed far from sufficient for a comfortable life.
In addition to new funding and staff development efforts, FAL looks forward to additional highly anticipated Drug Medi-Cal Treatment Certifications for its residential programs. These certifications along with the already existing certifications for FAL’s Outpatient Drug Free programs will add government recognition and approval to the already powerful, successful stories coming out of FAL.
Last, but not least, FAL looks forward to producing many more successful batches of graduates from its rehabilitation programs this year. With graduations every other month, FAL’s clients are well on their way to achieving this!