Commissioners Court approves Mental Health Services Contract with Camino Real Community Services
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Maverick County Commissioners Court approved Maverick County’s local match commitment for mental health services contract with Camino Real Community Services (CRCS) at their Monday, July 14, 2014 special meeting.
CRCS Director Emma Garcia presented Commissioners Court a summary signaling the impact of mental health services in the Maverick County provided by CRCS.
“ In the year 2013, we provided services to 1,772 individuals in Maverick County, 814 of these were adults with mental illnesses, 374 were children that qualified for our mental health children’s program, 169 individuals were served through the intellectual and mental disability program, 450 children that qualified for the early childhood intervention program. In the crisis response service provided to the community this year we have had 733 calls for the first three quarters of the year, which 248 of these calls resulted in face to face screenings. There were also a total of 50 hospitalizations from those screenings,” said Garcia.
Garcia stated that CRCS request for fiscal year 2015 from September 1, 2014 through August 31, 2015 for Maverick County is an in kind commitment from Maverick County in the amount of $110, 690.00 and that Maverick County surpasses that by the in kind credit they get due to providing the facility in which Camino Real Community Services is currently located at. “You are well above the in kind contribution that is asked for,” said Garcia.
County Commissioner Roberto Ruiz noted the significant impact that CRCS has on Maverick County and the important mental health services it provides County citizens. “I am so glad that our community is getting the help that it needs,” said Ruiz. Commissioner Ruiz is a Board member of CRCS.
Garcia stated that they are in the process of enhancing other services to the community including mental health services to U.S. Veterans. CRCS is working to establish a better connection with medical facilities such as the United Medical Centers to provide medical preventative care for patients assisted by CRCS, as well as bringing in certain behavioral supports for their intellectual and disability program to assist persons with challenging behaviors such as Autism.
