CLOVIS, NM (KFDA) – Construction is underway on the Horizon Behavioral Health Center in Clovis, a project that will expand access to critical mental health and substance use treatment across eastern New Mexico.
The $10 million, state-funded facility is designed to serve multiple surrounding counties, including Curry, Roosevelt, Quay, De Baca and others.
Clovis City Manager, Justin Howalt says, the goal is to bring care closer to home for rural patients who currently have to travel long distances for treatment.
“Our region currently does not have any crisis triage facilities available to us.” said Howalt. “When a patient goes into Plains Regional Medical Center, our EMS support teams are having to transport those individuals either to Lubbock, Amarillo, Albuquerque sometimes, and they can even go as far as Abilene, TX.”
The first phase of the project will include a 12,300-square-foot crisis triage center, featuring 16 inpatient beds and space for patients in immediate crisis.
Once complete, the facility will provide stabilization services and short-term care for individuals experiencing mental health or substance use emergencies.
Howalt says one of the biggest impacts will be on local law enforcement, giving officers a new option when responding to people in crisis.
“What they need to do is be able to go to a crisis triage facility, be able to get stabilized for whatever condition that they’re going through and not use our local jails as a place to be able to house individuals that are having behavioral health or mental health issues,” said Howalt.
Instead of being taken to jail, individuals will be transported to the center for care, helping reduce strain on local detention facilities while connecting people to the treatment they need.
The project is a regional partnership, with surrounding communities working together to bring the facility to Clovis.
Officials say the center will also help families stay connected during treatment by eliminating the need to travel hours away to visit loved ones.
“We want to bring health care to our area, so that way those patients can be served as well as a lot of times with inpatients their families are having to travel to support them,” said Howalt. “We want to make sure that their families aren’t having to travel to faraway locations in order to visit their loved ones.”
In addition to regional support, the city is working with Clovis Community College and Eastern New Mexico University to help build a workforce capable of staffing the facility.
An operator has already been selected, with Community Bridges set to manage day-to-day operations and patient care.
“This is something that’s been long overdue and needed for our community,” said Howalt. “It’s going to benefit our military members. It’s going to benefit our citizens.”
The first phase of the Horizon Behavioral Health Center is expected to be completed in August, with plans to expand in the future.
City leaders say the next phase could include a dedicated youth facility and additional services as funding becomes available.
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