Ray of Hope
A RAY OF HOPE Cuidando lo Nuestro | Laredo Morning Times. In Laredo, where the Rio Grande weaves its cultures and histories, the Border Region Behavioral Health Center stands as a ray of hope and healing. This vibrant institution is redefining mental health care one compassionate step at a time. Laura Cortez is the Director of Special Programs and Projects at Border Region Behavioral Health Center. She stated, “The Border Region Behavioral Health Center, formerly known as Border Region MHMR or the Laredo State Center, is the local mental authority serving four counties (Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg and Starr). Our services help children, adolescents and adults. We impact individuals who have anxiety, intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are open Monday-Friday. However, if an individual is in a crisis situation, our services are available through our Crisis Hotline, 1-800-643-1102. Our crisis number 948 is also available where Crisis counselors are readily available to meet them where they are no matter what time of day it may be.” On September the 13th, 2025, we are hosting a Suicide Prevention Walk and Health Fair in Laredo at our Center grounds, 1500 Pappas. This walk and health fair will provide our community in Laredo and surrounding areas an opportunity to learn more about the services we provide to our clients within our community. We will also have community partners that will showcase the services they provide if someone is in need of behavioral health services for children, children care at the early age of three through eighteen years. Our Crisis Stabilization Unit has twelve beds and sixteen beds at our Pappas location. On September the 13th, 2025, we are hosting a Suicide Prevention Walk and Health Fair in Laredo at our Center grounds, 1500 Pappas. This walk and health fair will provide our community in Laredo and surrounding areas an opportunity to learn more about the services we provide to our clients within our community. We will also have community partners that will showcase the services they provide if someone is in need of behavioral health services for children, children care at the early age of three through eighteen years. Our Crisis Stabilization Unit has twelve beds and sixteen beds at our Pappas location. We have MCOT and YCOT as well. Each of these names entitle individuals with suicidal ideations. MCOT stands for Mobile Crisis Outreach Team. It is designed to handle a person who is distressed and experiencing emotional challenges. MCOT provides counseling services to people at their homes, school or any other location. It provides a combination of services thatinclude emergency care, urgent care, follow up care and relapse prevention to child, youth and/or adult. YCOT is new at our Center. The YCOT (Youth Crisis Outreach Team) program is designed to meet the unique needs of youth and families with developmental appropriate interventions administered by qualified professionals. YCOT’s support youth experiencing a mental health crisis by deescalating the situation and remaining available with more to provide service to the youth’s family and caregivers for up to ninety days. Youth and their families often need additional support in order to reduce the need for emergency room visits or involving law enforcement. This program offers crisis stabilization in the least restrictive environment with intensive short-term follow up care and connection to community resources. We also possess first episode psychosis program, serve our clients, an onsite pharmacy program for substance and tobacco use cessation and a program geared for veterans. Finally, our Center offers Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). This teaches you how to assist and support others who may be experiencing mental health or substance use challenges.” As the sun sets over Laredo, the Border Region Behavioral Health Center remains a steadfast guardian of mental wellness, proving that healing knows no boundaries. With every life touched, the Center continues to build a healthier, stronger community — one compassionate embrace at a time. Their offices are located at 1500 Pappas in Laredo, Texas. Their phone number is 956-794-3430 and our Crisis Hotline is 956-794-2944. On September the 13th, 2025, we are hosting a Suicide Prevention Walk and Health Fair in Laredo at our Facebook Instagram On September the 13th, 2025, we are hosting a Suicide Prevention Walk and Health Fair in Laredo at our Center grounds, 1500 Pappas. This walk and health fair will provide our community in Laredo and surrounding areas an opportunity to learn more about the services we provide to our clients within our community. We will also have community partners that will showcase the services they provide if someone is in need of behavioral health services for children, children care at the early age of three through eighteen years. Our Crisis Stabilization Unit has twelve beds and sixteen beds at our Pappas location. On September the 13th, 2025, we are hosting a Suicide Prevention Walk and Health Fair in Laredo at our Center grounds, 1500 Pappas. This walk and health fair will provide our community in Laredo and surrounding areas an opportunity to learn more about the services we provide to our clients within our community. We will also have community partners that will showcase the services they provide if someone is in need of behavioral health services for children, children care at the early age of three through eighteen years. Our Crisis Stabilization Unit has twelve beds and sixteen beds at our Pappas location. We have MCOT and YCOT as well. Each of these names entitle individuals with suicidal ideations. MCOT stands for Mobile Crisis Outreach Team. It is designed to handle a person who is distressed and experiencing emotional challenges. MCOT provides counseling services to people at their homes, school or any other location. It provides a combination of services thatinclude emergency care, urgent care, follow up care and relapse prevention to child, youth and/or adult. YCOT is new at our Center. The YCOT (Youth Crisis Outreach Team) program is designed to meet the unique needs of youth and families with developmental appropriate interventions administered by qualified professionals. YCOT’s support youth experiencing a
Girl Scout Cookie Season Brings Sweet Memories
It’s Girl Scout Cookie Time! My favorite has always been the Caramel deLites (originally known as the Samoas). The runner-up is the Peanut Butter Sandwich (I remember as the Doe-Si-Dos). At the United Way office, the Trefoils are the favored cookie. My niece, Kathryn, loves the Thin Mints. This past Sunday, Girl Scout Troop #9150 from Blessed Sacrament was selling cookies after every Mass. I believe they sold out! My son bought some cookies, and I made a donation. It was great to see the young girls in their uniforms trying to raise money for their troop. It made me reminisce on my days of selling cookies and being a Girl Scout Troop Leader. It was a lot of fun, but it was also a lot of work. I had a pack in South Laredo. We met on Saturday mornings at the old Girl Scout House behind the tennis courts on Market St. It’s changed a lot since my days there. In fact, they completely redid the building and parking lot. It is a beautiful facility. Inside you can still see the history of Girl Scouts in our community with the memorabilia that is on display. They also have a nice kitchen and meeting area. There is even a section of the new floor that commemorates the original building. In the back of the building, they have an area for outdoor activities and campfires. Dorothy Neumann and Gloria Hastings were the Girl Scout trainers at the time I was volunteering. I was so impressed by their knowledge and skills. You have to commend their volunteer leaders for their time and commitment to our youth. The “paycheck” they get is the smiles on the girls’ faces when they learn something new and earn their activity patch. I always felt that my motiva- It’s Girl Scout Cookie Time! My favorite has always been the Caramel deLites (originally known as the Samoas). The runner-up is the Peanut Butter Sandwich (I remember as the Doe-Si-Dos). At the United Way office, the Trefoils are the favored cookie. My niece, Kathryn, loves the Thin Mints. This past Sunday, Girl Scout Troop #9150 from Blessed Sacrament was selling cookies after every Mass. I believe they sold out! My son bought some cookies, and I made a donation. It was great to see the young girls in their uniforms trying to raise money for their troop. It made me reminisce on my days of selling cookies and being a Girl Scout Troop Leader. It was a lot of fun, but it was also a lot of work. I had a pack in South Laredo. We met on Saturday mornings at the old Girl Scout House behind the tennis courts on Market St. It’s changed a lot since my days there. In fact, they completely redid the building and parking lot. It is a beautiful facility. Inside you can still see the history of Girl Scouts in our community with the memorabilia that is on display. They also have a nice kitchen and meeting area. There is even a section of the new floor that commemorates the original building. In the back of the building, they have an area for outdoor activities and campfires. Dorothy Neumann and Gloria Hastings were the Girl Scout trainers at the time I was volunteering. I was so impressed by their knowledge and skills. You have to commend their volunteer leaders for their time and commitment to our youth. The “paycheck” they get is the smiles on the girls’ faces when they learn something new and earn their activity patch. I always felt that my motivation was knowing that I was investing in the future leaders of our community. It’s Girl Scout Cookie Time! My favorite has always been the Caramel deLites (originally known as the Samoas). The runner-up is the Peanut Butter Sandwich (I remember as the Doe-Si-Dos). At the United Way office, the Trefoils are the favored cookie. My niece, Kathryn, loves the Thin Mints. This past Sunday, Girl Scout Troop #9150 from Blessed Sacrament was selling cookies after every Mass. I believe they sold out! My son bought some cookies, and I made a donation. It was great to see the young girls in their uniforms trying to raise money for their troop. It made me reminisce on my days of selling cookies and being a Girl Scout Troop Leader. It was a lot of fun, but it was also a lot of work. I had a pack in South Laredo. We met on Saturday mornings at the old Girl Scout House behind the tennis courts on Market St. It’s changed a lot since my days there. In fact, they completely redid the building and parking lot. It is a beautiful facility. Inside you can still see the history of Girl Scouts in our community with the memorabilia that is on display. They also have a nice kitchen and meeting area. There is even a section of the new floor that commemorates the original building. In the back of the building, they have an area for outdoor activities and campfires. Dorothy Neumann and Gloria Hastings were the Girl Scout trainers at the time I was volunteering. I was so impressed by their knowledge and skills. You have to commend their volunteer leaders for their time and commitment to our youth. The “paycheck” they get is the smiles on the girls’ faces when they learn something new and earn their activity patch. I always felt that my motivation was knowing that I was investing in the future leaders of our community. -tion was knowing that I was investing in the future leaders of our community. Victoria Rosas, Fund Development Specialist for Girl Scouts in Laredo, shared at a recent meeting that, “The Girl Scout Cookie Program is more than just selling cookies. It equips girls with lifelong skills that prepare them for future success.” She explained that the program fosters five key life skills: Goal setting – girls learn to set
