Social problems, like poverty, drug abuse and violence, destroy families and communities and leave children emotionally damaged, unprepared to learn and robbed of their full potential. El Paso Emergence Health Network (referenced in this report as EHN or Center) assists Texas most vulnerable citizens – Texans with either or both severe and persistent mental illness and mental retardation – and helps individuals and families solve their problems and take care of themselves.

Investing in people to achieve specific, measurable results is an essential part of community development. EHN is committed to investing in services that work, making a positive, measurable difference in peoples lives; and helping communities. Stable families mean safer neighborhoods, a more productive work force, higher contributing citizens, more successful students and an overall better quality of life for community residents.

• EHN is a community-based mental health/intellectual disabilities center. EHN is a partner with the El Paso community.
• EHN is consumer-centered. We believe in the people we serve. We aim to help our consumers solve their problems, improve their circumstances, develop their potential and become self-sufficient.
• EHN is result oriented. We measure our results and can show the people of Texas and the federal government what they get in return for their investment in human services.

Texas community EHN centers are part of local government. Each center is governed by a Board of Trustees public officials appointed by and accountable to the centers sponsoring entity (or entities). Sponsoring entities include county commissioners and may also include cities, hospital districts, and/or school districts.

In accordance with state statutes, centers strive to develop services for persons who have a serious and persistent mental illness or have mental retardation, and may provide substance addiction services. With this state charge, and in accordance with state law and its trustees decisions, centers may provide services; expand resources for their service areas; manage resources for state and local government; include the community in service assessment, planning, and evaluation; provide leadership to the coordination of local mental health, mental retardation, and substance addiction resources; and strive for “best value” in the expenditure of its public funds. Centers are subject to the same “open government” requirements as state government. Every Texas county is served by a community EHN center.