Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Department of
A Special Report on the Life Management Center for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services of El Paso
Report Number 95-033
LIFE MANAGEMENT CENTER
The Life Management Center for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services of El Paso (Life Management Center) should improve planning processes and control systems to help ensure that resources are targeted to address the mental health needs of El Paso county.
Life Management Center's strategic plan does not include objectives, strategies, prioritized long-term goals, or performance measures.
Life Management Center spent approximately $1 million in fiscal year 1993 for mental health and substance abuse programs for children and adolescents. This was five percent of the Center's total budget. For all community centers in Texas, the average amount budgeted for these programs was seven percent.
Funding for mental health and mental retardation services has increased 32 percent between 1991 and 1993.
A long-term residential treatment center for severely ill adolescents is expected to open in January 1995. Some adolescents will no longer be required to travel more than 330 miles to Big Spring, Texas or to other locations in the State or country to receive treatment.
EL PASO PSYCHIATRIC CENTER
The total cost of this construction project will exceed the original amount, $8.7 million, appropriated by the 72nd Legislature, 1st Called Session, by approximately $1.5 million. The cost overrun will occur because some project administrative costs (i.e. project administration, surveys, material testing, quality control, contingency, and escalation) were not included in the proposed budget approved by the Legislature.
Completion of this construction project is scheduled for January 1996. The project is currently six months behind schedule since the beginning of the schematic design phase of construction planning. Overall, the project is approximately two and one half years behind the original schedule.
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