— The employees of Hill Country Community MHMR Center (Hill Country), along with their families, came together at the Riverside Star Event Park in Kerrville recently to honor those who served for five and 10 years  and to celebrate another year of serving individuals living with mental illness and developmental disabilities.

Hill Country, through its mission of promoting independence, community integration and recovery, serves individuals from 19 counties throughout the greater Texas Hill Country including Bandera, Blanco. Comal, Edwards, Gillespie, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Llano, Mason, Medina, Menard, Real, Schleicher, Sutton, Uvalde and Val Verde.

With more than 500 employees throughout its 22,000 square mile service area, Hill Country, organized in September 1997,  provides mental health, developmental disability, early childhood intervention and substance use services.   

Hill Country operates 10 mental health clinics which served more than 7,000 children and adults during the last year.  

The Scheib Mental Health Clinic located in San Marcos served 1,062 adults and 144 children.  The clinics offer treatment for major depression, bipolar and schizophrenic disorders.

The mental health clinics also serve as the mental health crisis response system for the local area and respond to calls made to the Mental Health Crisis Hotline (877) 466-0660.  

Throughout the past year, Hill Country’s mental health clinics have participated in a number of national initiatives aimed at promoting recovery and continually improving patient care.  

Currently, Hill Country is integrating Trauma Informed Care throughout its service delivery system.

The Hill Country Crisis Stabilization Unit located in Kerrville served 649 individuals with a mental health crisis requiring inpatient treatment during the past year.  

The unit provides continuity of care between the inpatient and outpatient settings and has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Service Administration Office of Rural Health Policy as a Rural Behavioral Health Program Promising Practice for the coordination of care provided between the inpatient and outpatient setting.

Hill Country also offers Veteran to Veteran Peer Services and Veteran Support Services.  These services are designed to give Veteran’s of all military branches the opportunity to come together and discuss their experiences and any challenges they face as they reintegrate into day to day activities after returning from deployment.

In addition, psychiatric services, counseling, skills training and client support funds for items such as rental assistance, clothing, and temporary support needs are available to veterans and their family members.  

This program is made possible by a grant from the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans’ Assistance.  The fund provides grants to organizations serving veterans and their families.  

Funding for these grants comes from a portion of veterans scratch-off lottery ticket sales.  Those interested in veteran services may contact the Scheib Mental Health Clinic at 392-7151.

San Marcos’ Scheib Developmental Disability Center serves more than 230 men and women with developmental disabilities attend classes learning vocational skills, living skills to enhance community living, social skills and job placement assistance.  

Services are offered to families to help with individualized life planning, linkage to appropriate community resources and monitoring services.

The center also offers temporary care, either in home or out of the home for persons with disabilities, as well as residential and day programs for those who qualify.

Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) in Hays County serves more than 360 children. ECI is a statewide program for families with children, birth to three, with disabilities and developmental delays. ECI supports families to help their children reach their potential through developmental services. The staff works with  families, as a team, to focus on  growth and development of the child in their environment.

One of the highlights of the Hill Country picnic each year is the recognition of individuals who have completed five and  10 years of service.  

This year 28 employees were recognized for the service.  Employees in Hays County who were recognized for completing five years of service included Malcolm Rash, Mary Beth Roper and Florence Spencer.

“These individuals, along with our dedicated board and all of our staff, are truly devoted to helping improve the lives of individuals living with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and recovering from substance abuse,” Werlein said.  “Together, we make a difference in individual’s lives by promoting independence, community integration and recovery for those we serve.”

For more information on Hill Country Community MHMR Center, visit www.hillcountry.org.