Midland ISD Looking for BCA Replacement
By: Marianne Elisak
Updated: January 10, 2013
MIDLAND---The Midland Independent School District(MISD) is having to deal with the loss of the Behavioral Centers of America(BCA) location in Midland.
The BCA was bought out by the Allegiance Health Center and was officially closed on December 30th, 2012.
The new facility will provide in-patient treatment to those in need, but the reason it's affecting MISD students is that it will only be offered to patients that are 18 years of age and older.
"Our students are no longer able to get in-patient treatment in the Midland-Odessa area" says MISD Crisis Counselor, Heather Mason "Allegiance is an in-patient facility but they do not serve adolescents".
Students who have severe mental issues or even have suicidal thoughts are now being forced to travel to either the River Crest Hospital in San Angelo or Acadia Healthcare in Abilene for in-patient treatment.
"Our counselors are not clinical psychologists, we don't have those services on campus, so we refer out" says MISD Superintendent, Dr. Ryder Warren.
The in-patient treatment center would provide students with the appropriate medication and dosage for their needs, and that is now only given in San Angelo and Abilene.
"It's hard on the parents who have to send their child 2 to 3 hours away for treatment" says Mason "that could be a problem for some of our families is they don't have a vehicle or ways to get to San Angelo or to Abilene to participate in the treatments".
As of right now MISD is looking for another Crisis Counselor in order to help with the loss of the BCA facility.
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