PMS Totah Behavioral Health Authority Recognized as an Innovative Program Star

Photo: Totah received its Innovative Program Star Award at pre-Roundhouse activities Tuesday, February 14, in Santa Fe. Left to right: Dr. Wayne Lindstrom, Megan Hill, Kristine Carlson, Laura Ann Crawford.

FARMINGTON – Presbyterian Medical Services (PMS)-Totah Behavioral Health Authority (TBHA) has been selected as an Innovative Program Star in New Mexico. The program is one of 10 selected this year by the Behavioral Health Planning Council, acting on behalf of the State’s Behavioral Health Collaborative (BHC). It was nominated into the selection process by Pamela Drake, Executive Director of the Farmington-based San Juan County Partnership.

Drake commented, “I nominated Totah for a Behavioral Health STAR provider award because the agency has been innovative and creative in addressing the needs of our community members. More than that, the agency has demonstrated, through its regular programming and the addition of two new programs, the Sobering Center and Paul’s Place, their compassion and concern for our relatives. The staff goes over and above dedication to their jobs to devotion to our community.”

Along with other Star programs, representatives from Totah were recognized on the House and Senate floors of the New Mexico State Legislature, Wednesday, February 15.

In operation since 2002, Totah Behavioral Health Authority is a collaborative partnership between the major governmental entities in the Four Corners region. This includes the Navajo Nation, San Juan County and the City of Farmington, as well as six other partnering agencies that are the main providers of primary medical and behavioral health services in the region. Totah offers community support services, individual counseling, group counseling, assessment, and referral for those experiencing problems with alcohol and other drugs. In 2016, TBHA served some 711 unduplicated individuals last year.

In 2013, Totah added the Joint Intervention Program (JIP) to address the needs of the most chronic homeless individuals with the greatest amount of service usage. This program partners with law enforcement, the courts, the hospital and other providers to ensure that the most chronic users of the system receive specialized, intensive treatment for up to a year.

In 2016, through partnerships with the Farmington Police Department, City of Farmington, the 11th Judicial Municipal Courts, San Juan County, and San Juan Regional Medical Center, Totah was able to open Paul’s Place and the Sobering Center. Paul’s Place is a 45-bed dormitory to assist participants in the JIP program with a safe place to stay during treatment and aftercare, if needed. The Sobering Center is a person-centered crisis intervention program designed for adults in San Juan County who are suffering from an episode of alcohol and/or substance overuse. The Sobering Center serves as the “front door” to intervention programs.

Established in 1969, Presbyterian Medical Service’s mission is to design and deliver quality, accessible, integrated health, education, and human services in response to identified community needs of the multi-cultural people of the Southwest.

Along with Totah, PMS operates more than 50 health centers throughout the state; 37 behavioral health centers, and about one dozen school-based health centers in public schools. It is the second largest provider of federally-funded Head Start & Early Head Start services in New Mexico. PMS operates a number of stand-alone programs in San Juan, Torrance, and McKinley Counties as well. It is one of the largest employers in New Mexico’s non-profit sector.

To learn more about PMS and its programs and services, please visit pmsnm.org or call toll free 1-800-477-7633.