Senate passes bill allocating $115 for Mental Health needs in El Paso
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) - The Texas senate has passed a bill that includes $115 funding for mental and behavioral health for the borderland.
The money will be used for the redesign and expansion of the El Paso Psychiatric Center State Hospital System.
The expansion will include 50 new mental health beds.
“While this funding is a giant leap forward in addressing El Paso’s mental health needs, I look forward to continuing to work with our local community leaders to make improvements and expand high-quality mental health care to families in our community," said state Sen. Cesar Blanco.
A similar bill already passed in the state's House of Representatives.
"The El Paso Behavioral Health Consortium is grateful for the efforts of the El Paso Delegation and all state legislators who are working to expand and enhance State Hospital Systems of care to support future needs," said Sharon Butterworth, Founding Chair of the El Paso Behavioral Health Consortium. "This is about more than a new facility – this is an opportunity to change the way we deliver care and design a local behavioral health system that improves the delivery of mental health services for the El Paso region.”
“I wish to thank the Legislature and especially the El Paso delegation for their commitment to advancing behavioral health systems in Texas." said Kristen Daugherty, CEO of Emergency Health Network. "I believe this significant investment will greatly improve the lives of justice-involved Texans living with mental illness.”
