EUGENE, Ore. — As Eugene residents lose access to the alternative crisis response program, CAHOOTS, a Springfield teen expresses that it was more than just a contract that was lost. Victoria Acosta states that CAHOOTS wasn’t just a crisis response team; it was her lifeline. Now, with the program cut from Eugene’s emergency response system, she’s speaking out.
When Victoria left home at the age of 15, she felt lost. By all appearances, she was thriving— an honor roll student, a track athlete, and a mariachi singer. Behind closed doors, she was struggling.
“I felt like I needed to portray this perfect image of myself,” Victoria explained. At Springfield High School, CAHOOTS workers told her, “It’s okay to not be perfect all the time. And if you need help, we’re here to help you.”…