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BCA Permian Basin Shutting Its Doors 12/10/12
BCA Permian Basin Shutting Its Doors 12/11/12
Shannon Murray
CBS 7 Reporter
smurray@cbs7.com
December 10, 2012
Midland, TX - A mental health facility that law enforcement, schools and residents depend on has been surrounded by rumors for months.
But tonight CBS 7 has confirmed that BCA Permian Basin is closing it’s doors.
We’re also told that Allegiance specialty hospital will be moving in. The problem is, unlike BCA, allegiance does not work with adolescents, leaving young people without any other option for care in West Texas.
Student Development Director Ron Moss says they usually refer about 4 students a month to BCA.
"That facility was local, it made it so much easier for families to deal with that in patient process," Moss explains.
But without many other options for youth, Moss says for in-patient care students will be forced to travel hours away to San Angelo or Abilene where they face the risk of being put on a waitlist.
"It’s just not the same, when you are in crisis you need to be at a place that will give you treatment around the clock," he says.
Moss claims with school hallways already busting at the seams this couldn't come at a worse time.
"West Texas, and particularly Midland/Odessa will be without a children’s and adolescent mental health facility and that's really sad for this community."
BCA has yet to provide an explanation or a statement in response to the closure.
Midland ISD says they did meet with representatives from River Crest, the adolescent in-patient facility in San Angelo, to discuss details and begin building that relationship.