One thing of which I am sure is that without a clear idea of where I’m going, I can not ever get anywhere. I think that idea is true for me and for a lot of people. In my work, I know that forming and following a roadmap is key to get someplace I want to be. I work with agencies to formulate endgames and strategies to arrive at their endgames. However, my community is floundering simply because there is no endgame or roadmap. For example, we have a growing problem with an unhoused population, yet there is no endgame or roadmap towards solving that problem. As a matter of fact, there is a segment of our community that doesn’t even want to define it as a problem. But drug use and crime are clearly rising as a result of the growing unhoused population here is Santa Fe, yet it often appears like we, as a community, might complain, but want others to solve it.

Well, I don’t have any answers, but I want to at least dialogue with treatment providers community members, and other resources who have ideas about directions and solutions regarding Santa Fe’s growing unhoused population. I want to have this dialogue so much that On Tuesday, March 25th, 5:30 – 7:00PM, I will host this dialogue at Santa Fe’s Southside Library’s Community Room. As part of this dialogue, I will offer 1.5 free Ethics CEUs for Counselors, Therapists, Social Workers, and Psychologists.

The goal for this event is to gather ideas and begin the process of finding ways and means to address our unhoused population. TO begin, I will discuss the challenges I’ve encountered treating this population, especially pertaining to Meth and Fentanyl use. These substances create challenging brain changes and I think this aspect definitely needs discussion. Please spread the word and I hope to see as many people there as possible so that we can begin creating an endgame and roadmap. There are no easy answers, but I believe that together we can find some implementable solutions. If you have any questions pr comments, please email me at: juan.blea@jblea1016.com