County Gets $10-Million To Buy Land For Mental Health Collaborative

by Joe Villasana

El Paso — The Border Children’s Mental Health Collaborative that will help children in the county with mental health issues is one step closer to becoming a reality.

“We’re trying to get to them at an early age in life to straighten out all the problems these[children] may have so that they don’t have to deal with these issues later in life,” said County Commissioner Dan Haggerty in regards to the goal of the mental health facility.

The county commissioner tells ABC-7 the county has received ten million dollars in bond money to buy land necessary to house the facility. However, the county will be able to use that money to cover other costs because it already owns land that is being considered as a possible location for it.

The county-owned land consists of eleven acres near Ascarate Park. The land was separated from the park more than 30 years ago by the federal government and given to the county.

If the facility is built in that location,it will be blocks away from both I-10 and theBorderHighway. Haggertybelieves this will make it easy for families from all over the county to have access tothe facility. “Ascarate is centrally located. Itis in a beautiful location within the county. People from all over the county [will be able] to reach the facility with fairly easy convenience.”

The only concern about the location is thata portion of theAscarate Golf Course is within the eleven acres. Commissioners will discuss theissue in future meetings, said Haggerty.

He points out what he believes are some misconceptions about the Ascarate location. It hasledmany to believe that the facility will only cater to low-income families and Hispanics. “It will be available to families in every part of the county. It will have no border. It will have no, ‘This is Hispanic only, this is white only, this is black only,'” he said. “This is for everyone: poor people, rich people, fat people, skinny people, everyone.”

Another misconceptionmany have about the facility is that it will be dedicated specifically to children that are mentally retarded, said Haggerty. He said the facility will deal primarily with children with mental health issues.

According to Haggerty, one in every five El Pasoans will be impacted by mental health issues during their lifetime. These issues may range from depression to schizophrenia as well conditions arising from sexual, emotional and financial abuse,he said. “The kids we are dealing with have been subjected to some horrific stuff.”