Parents graduated from the second Mental Heath Academy of the year, with a record registration number.
Amongst them, five parents that are actively involved with BCMHC completed the eight week session.
The next Parent Academy focused on Mental Health is planned to start mid February 2009.
Congratulations to all of you!
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The staff from Border Children's Mental Health Collaborative and guests celebrated Thanksgiving at The Firehouse with several youth enrolled in the program and their families. Turkeys and foodbaskets were distributed to needy families.
A million thanks to our voulunteer youth from Hanks High School for a job well done!!
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Come and join us !!
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Please click on the picture to open a full size version of our October 2008 newsletter
About 1,000 supporters of El Paso Mental Health Mental Retardation services (MHMR) marched Thursday evening from St. Patrick Cathedral to San Jacinto Plaza to show the urgency for additional State funds much needed in El Paso.
The rally was organized by MHMR to request additional funding. "Without more money, 1000 adults and 500 children would be placed on a waiting list and would not get help for medicines, treatment programs and other assistance for six months or longer, the crowd was told" (El Paso Times-Stephanie Sanchez, reporter).
The crowd marched into San Jacinto Plaza chanting "No Waiting list". BCMHC staff as well as representatives of other local agencies were present to show their support. AntiStigma man was also present at the event.
"W'ere going to have to take 1,500 people off their meds, and over a period of six months, all their symptoms will come back...they will be disruptive in school, there will be public disturbances, there will be arrests, there will be people going to the emergency rooms and asking for medications...it will be chaos and we know that" said Gary Larcenaire, CEO of El Paso MHMR.
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La Colaborativa de Salud Mental para Niños Fronterizos (BCMHC, por sus siglas en inglés) fue galardonada por parte de la Fundación de Liderazgo de la Asociación de Condados de Texas (TAC, por sus siglas en inglés).
El programa del condado obtuvo los máximos honores al ser reconocido en la categoría de Excelencia en Provisión de Servicios Humanos y de Salud al ser uno de 24 programas a través del estado que se destaca por su innovación, logros, y entrega de servicios a la comunidad.
Esto les valió hacerse acreedores del premio “2008 County Best Practices Award” donde se reconocen iniciativas que realizan los gobiernos de condados y que sirven como modelo a otros para ahorrar dinero a los contribuyentes.
El premio le fue entregado al Juez del Condado, Anthony Cobos, en representación de la Colaborativa de manos del titular de la Secretaria de Distrito del Condado de Brazos y ex-presidente de la Asociación de Condados de Texas é integrante de la mesa directiva de la Fundación de Liderazgo, Marc Hamlin; el Director Operativo de TAC, Gene Terry, y el Representante Distrital de TAC, Víctor Uvalle.
Durante la entrega del reconocimiento, y en nombre de la Corte de Comisionados del Condado de El Paso, el Juez del Condado, Anthony Cobos, felicitó a todos los integrantes de la Colaborativa por su impecable trabajo al dirigir sus esfuerzos a solventar las necesidades de los niños y adolescentes que padecen de alteraciones emocionales.
Una placa conmemorativa le fue entregada al Director de la Colaborativa, Roger Martínez, en reconocimiento a su ardua labor al frente de dicho programa. “El reconocimiento me tomo por sorpresa y nos motiva a esperar lo mejor para los años venideros porque con esto demostramos que estamos logrando hacer una diferencia en la vida de los niños, adolescentes, y sus familias que viven en el condado”, aseveró Martínez.
El Paso County’s Border Children’s Mental Health Collaborative was honored by the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) Leadership Foundation.
El Paso County’s program is being honored for Exceptional Delivery of Services in Health and Human Services.
The program is one of 24 county programs around the state selected to receive high honors for innovation, achievement and delivery of services in the 2008 County Best Practice Awards, which recognizes county initiatives that serve as a model to others and save taxpayer monies.
The award was presented by Brazos County District Clerk Marc Hamlin, immediate past president of TAC and Leadership Foundation board member; Gene Terry, TAC operations director; and Victor Uvalle, TAC field representative to the county Judge, Anthony Cobos.
During the presentation ceremony and on behalf of the Commissioners Court, El Paso County Judge Anthony Cobos, congratulated all involved in the collaborative for their impeccable work addressing the needs of children and adolescents who suffer emotional disturbances.A plaque was presented to the Director of the Program, Roger Martinez in recognition of his work and leadership.“The plaque presentation caught me by total surprise and gave me another reason to be more motivated and work hard for the upcoming years. Now, we can say that we are all making a difference in the lives of children, youth and families of El Paso County,” Martinez concluded.
Representatives from the Texas Association of Counties will be here on Monday, September 22, 2008 to award the Collaborative with the “2008 Leadership Foundation County Best Practice Award”
We invite all our families and community partners to join us in Commissioners Court at 9:30 am on the third floor of the County Courthouse for this presentation.
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BCMHC
Día Nacional de Reconocimiento de la Salud Mental De Niños - 8 de Mayo 2008
El Border Children’s Mental Health Collaborative y sus asociados van a celebrar el “Día Nacional de reconocimiento de la Salud Mental de niños” trayendo e introduciendo todas las agencias que estaran hospedadas en El Paso County Youth Services Center. Esperamos lograr reconocimiento de este proyecto por parte de la comunidad para promover y celebrar "cuerpos y mentes sanas".
Este día de reconocimiento genera reconocimiento de programas efectivos para nececidades de salud mental para niños, demuestra como las iniciativas de salud mental de niñospromueven un desarrollo juvenil positivo, recuperacion y resistencia, y enseña como niños con necesidades de salud mental prosperan en sus comunidades.
El acontecimiento “Día Nacional de Reconocimiento de la Salud Mental de Niños” se llevara a cabo en el Parque de Ascarate el 8 de Mayo, 2008, de 6 p.m. a 8 p.m. Habran muchas actividades y juegos entretenidos, comida, musica, diversiones, reconocimiento cultural e informacion sobre la salud mental.
El evento pricipal en este acontecimiento sera “Corazon de nuestra Comunidad, Nuestras Madres” encabezando una bendicion del terreno, cerca al local propuesto, de El Paso County Youth Services Center.
BCMHC
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day May 8, 2008
The Border Children’s Mental Health Collaborative and its partners will celebrate “National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day” by bringing and introducing all the agencies that will be housed in the El Paso County Youth Services Center. We hope to bring awareness of this project to the community in order to promote and celebrate healthy minds and bodies.
Awareness Day raises awareness of effective programs for children’s mental health needs, demonstrates how children’s mental health initiatives promote positive youth development, recovery and resilience, and show how children with mental health needs thrive in their communities.
The “National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day” event will take place at Ascarate Park on May 8, 2008 from 6p.m. to 8p.m. with many fun activities/games, food, music, entertainment, cultural awareness and mental health information for all.
The event will be highlighted by the “Heart of our Community, Our Mothers” leading a blessing of the land, close to the proposed site, of the El Paso County Youth Services Center.
