The Jasper/Newton Local Advisory Board of the Rural East Texas Health Network (RETHN) recently met at the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department. Board members reviewed admissions data for Burke’s regional Mental Health Emergency Center, as well as discussed the mental health emergency delivery system for both Jasper and Newton counties.
The RETHN was established in 2006 by Burke in response to the tremendous need within our rural communities for a strategic plan/infrastructure to improve the mental health delivery system for our region. The purpose of the RETHN is to maintain a line of communication between stakeholders within communities; maintain communication between counties and the local mental health provider; promote education and awareness about issues concerning the mental health delivery system; and to provide a collective voice working towards common goals.
The RETHN is comprised of local advisory boards that represent the twelve counties of our Deep East Texas region, as well as a Regional Board of Directors. Each local advisory board meets on a regular basis throughout the year.
Shown here at the meeting are (front row, left to right) Anne Bondesen, RETHN; Frances Scoggins, Burke Trustee; Leah Wade, Juvenile Probation Department; Crystal Bonner, Burke; (back row) Andy Authement, Jasper County Sheriff’s Department; Ashley Morrow, Newton County Sheriff’s Department; Glenn Blank, Jasper County Sheriff’s Department; Cynthia Hall, Newton County Sheriff’s Department; Bob McDonald, Jasper Police Chief; Cody Christopher, Jasper Police Department; and Brett Maisel, Burke. Also attending, but not shown was Mary Ann Gump, Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital.
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