A Once Fledgling Program Gets State Recognition

EL PASO, TX — The Border Children’s Mental Health Collaborative has had more than its fair share of problems. The federally-funded grant program has had two indirect brushes with the law; both times, it was due to the company LKG, which was contracted to evaluate the progress of children getting mental health treatment.

But LKG is in the BCMHC’s past. The direction its leaders are taking it is positive. State leaders are taking notice.

The Texas Association of Counties honored the program Monday during the County Commissioners meeting. The BCMHC received the 2008 County Best Practice Award, which recognizes county initiatives that serve as a model to others and that save taxpayer money.

“This is a very high honor for our community as well as for this particular initiative as well,” said Roger Martinez, the Project Director of the Border Children’s Mental Health Collaborative.

Martinez told ABC-7 he thinks this is only the beginning of the recognition for the program, which started out 5 years ago on a multimillion dollar grant from the federal government.

“We’re on the map, both at the state level and we’re going to be springboarding to the national level accolades,” Martinez said.

Martinez has told ABC-7, the push to build a facility in El Paso so local children with severe mental and emotional disorders can receive treatment close to home is vital for their care. In May, County Commissioners helped make that a reality, approving $10 million for its construction. Martinez has said that advocacy is what’s shining a positive light on the BCMHC.

The new facility will be located near Ascarate Park in South Central El Paso and is slated for completion in the next two years.

Written for kvia.com by Anchor/Reporter Stephanie Valle