Mission Statement: To provide culturally competent, holistic, and wellness-focused services that promote support for Postpartum Women and Children with Special Health Care Needs.
The mission includes, serving the social, mental and developmental needs, of individuals in our communities and addressing the identified needs in those areas.
We will do this by implementing effective mental health consultation to women, children, and families by navigating the mental health services for those who need them; and by continuing to strive for excellence in supporting mental health for all community members.
About the MHCNP
The primary focus of the Mental Health Care Navigation Program is to help individuals access the healthcare system and provide short-term counseling to assist individuals to work through personal and adjustment issues that interfere with their normal daily level of functioning.
The MHCNP has two programs; Postpartum Depression Intervention Care Navigation Program (PDICN), and the Mental Health Children with Special Health Care Needs Navigation Pogram-MH-CSHCN.
Mental Healthcare Navigation Program &
Children with Special Healthcare Needs Program
Who is Eligible?
- Any child 0-21 years old or a person of any age who has cystic fibrosis.
- Has a medical problem that is expected to last at least 12 months.
- Who needs more health care than what children usually need.
- Has physical symptoms affecting one or more of their daily activities.
- Reside in Cameron or Willacy Counties
- Uninsured or Underinsured (not including private insurance)
- Concerns for behavioral or emotional problems.
Services
MH-CSHCN is for children who have both physical and mental health care needs. The Navigators provide assistance with:
- Various program applications involved in accessing the health care system.
- Information and Referral to community based services such as housing, food assistance, clothing assistance, rent assistance, including WIC, Medicaid, CHIP, or Private Insurance.
- Accessing medical equipment
- Connect the patient to Primary Care Physician or specialty doctors to receive ongoing medical care
- Coordination of care with Primary Care Providers to ensure utilization of routine preventative care, and avoidance of emergency room utilization, for routine care.
- Advocacy in school settings
- Screening for behavioral and emotional problems.
- Counseling services provided by a Licensed Professional Counselor.
- Individual and group/family counseling services free of charge to low-income, underinsured, or uninsured children who have meet eligibility.
The primary focus of the Mental Health Counseling is to provide short-term counseling to help the child/family to work through personal and adjustment issues that may interfere with the ability to progress in the normal daily level of functioning to their fullest potential.
Individual counseling with counselors include discussion of a variety of concerns. These concerns may include personal feelings, depression, relationships, coping with stress and anxiety, self-awareness and other personal issues.
If the child’s situation requires counseling beyond the scope or capability of the Mental Health Care Navigation Care Program services, the child will be referred to an outside agency.
Postpartum Depression Intervention Care Navigation Program (PDICN)
What is Postpartum Depression?
This topic is about major depression triggered by childbirth. It is different from the “baby blues,” which many women have in the first couple of weeks after childbirth. For more information, see Baby Blues.
Postpartum Depression:
- is a serious illness that can occur in the first few months after childbirth. It also can happen after miscarriage and stillbirth.
LEARN MORE - can make you feel very sad, hopeless, and worthless. You may have trouble caring for and bonding with your baby.
LEARN MORE - is not the “baby blues,” which usually go away within a couple of weeks. The symptoms of postpartum depression can last for months.
LEARN MORE
In rare cases, a woman may have a severe form of depression called postpartum psychosis. This is an emergency, because it can quickly get worse and put her or others in danger. It’s very important to get treatment for depression. The sooner you get treated, the sooner you’ll feel better and enjoy your baby. Postpartum depression seems to be brought on by the changes in hormone levels that occur after pregnancy. Any woman can get postpartum depression in the months after childbirth, miscarriage, or stillbirth.
You have a greater chance of getting postpartum depression if:
- You’ve had depression or postpartum depression before.
- You have poor support from your partner, friends, or family.
- You have a sick or colicky baby
- You have a lot of other stress in your life.
You are more likely to get postpartum psychosis if you or someone in your family has bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression).
A woman who has postpartum depression may:
- Feel very sad, hopeless, and empty. Some women also may feel anxious.
- Lose pleasure in everyday things.
- Not feel hungry and may lose weight. (But some women feel more hungry and gain weight).
- Have trouble sleeping.
- Not be able to concentrate.
These symptoms can occur in the first day or two after the birth. Or they can follow the symptoms of the baby blues after a couple of weeks.” http://www.webmd.com/depression/postpartum-depression/postpartum-depression-topic-overview
Who is Eligible?
- Postpartum women who are enrolled in the Cameron County Department of Health and Human Services – Clinical Services Program.
What if I am not a patient at the Cameron County Department of Health and Human Services – Clinical Services Program?
- A Mental Health Care Navigator can provide information on how you can become a participant in the Cameron County Department of Health and Human Services Clinical Services Program.
Services
- Depression Screening to determine the level of depression associated with the individual.
- Ensure depressed postpartum client is actively being monitored, and attending mental health therapy sessions as needed.
- Counseling to women identified as symptomatic for depression.
- Provide Psych- Education regarding postpartum depression.
- Provide family educational support related to postpartum interventions
- Connect the patient to Primary Care Physician or specialty doctors to receive ongoing medical care
- Coordination of care with Primary Care Providers to ensure utilization of routine preventative care, and avoidance of emergency room utilization, for routine care.
- Ensure client has been referred to and treated by psychiatrist (as needed)
- Assist with resource support for medication management as needed
- Ensure the patient is seen for a postpartum visit with her provider (before 8 weeks postpartum)
- Ensure the patient is able to obtain the contraceptive method she has chosen
- Information and Referral to community based services such as housing, food assistance, clothing assistance, rent assistance, including WIC, Medicaid, CHIP, or Private Insurance.
- Link families to CSHCN medical insurance if child is born with birth difficulties
Contact Information | |
Joe G. Rivera & Aurora De La Garza Annex 1390 W. Expressway 83 | Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 – 12:00 am 1:00 – 5:00 pm |
| Santos Y. Castaneda Program Coordinator Santos.castaneda@co.cameron.tx.us | Elizabeth Puga, BSW Social Worker Elizabeth.puga@co.cameron.tx.us |
| Olga Lira Community Healthcare Worker Olga.Lira@co.cameron.tx.us | |
| Harlingen Public Health Center 711 N. “L” Street Harlingen, TX 78550 Office: (956) 427-8009 Fax: (956) 427-8010 Map: https://goo.gl/maps/WiSdiSDdJQt | Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 – 12:00 am 1:00 – 5:00 pm |
| Susana Elizondo, MSW Social Worker Susana.elizondo@co.cameorn.tx.us | David G. Gaytan, CHCW Community Healthcare Worker David.gaytan@co.cameron.tx.us |
| Mary P. Lucio Health Center Mental Health Care Navigation Program 1204 Jose Colunga, Jr. Brownsville, TX 78521 Phone: (956) 574-8745 Ext: 2160 FAX: (956) 574-8178Map: https://goo.gl/maps/aXmfSJWFwHQ2 | Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM 1:00 – 5:00 PM |
| LaWanda Ward, LBSW Social Worker Lawanda.Ward@co.cameron.tx.us | Guadalupe Jimenez, CHCW Community Healthcare Worker Guadalupe.Jimenez@co.cameron.tx.us |
| Father Joseph O’Brien Clinic 142 Champion Ave. Port Isabel, Texas Office: (956) 943-1300 Fax: (956) 943-0188Map: https://goo.gl/maps/gQAVr2reTbR2 | Office Hours: 3rd Wednesday of the month 8:30 AM-12:00 PM 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM Or Contact any of our locations for faster service. |
| LaWanda Ward, LBSW Social Worker Lawanda.Ward@co.cameron.tx.us | Guadalupe Jimenez, CHCW Community Healthcare Worker Guadalupe.Jimenez@co.cameron.tx.us |
Corina Cantu, LPC | |
Extended Contact Information
For life threatening emergencies dial 9-1-1.
Tropical Texas Behavioral Health
CRISIS Line: 1-877-289-7199
Main Number 1-800-813-1233
http://www.ttbh.org/
Family Crisis Center
24-Hour Hotline: 1-866-423-9304
Cameron County (956) 423-9304 | (956) 423-9305
Willacy County (956) 689-5150
http://www.familycrisisctr.org/
Friendship of Women (956)544-7412 http://www.fowinc.com/
Other Important Information
Medical Transportation Program MTP 1-855-687-4786
Valley Metro Cameron & Hidalgo Counties
1-800-574-8322 http://www.lrgvdc.org/valleymetro/
Medicaid Hotline 1-800-252-8263
Texas Workforce Commission
Unemployment Services 800-939-6631 http://www.twc.state.tx.us/
Programs for People with Disabilities 1-800-628-5115 http://www.twc.state.tx.us/partners/programs-people-disabilities
Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services
1-855-937-2372 http://www.dads.state.tx.us/providers/
Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services Interest List Phone Line 1-877-438-5658
211/Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Call 2-1-1 or dial 1-877-541-7905 https://yourtexasbenefits.com/ssp/SSPHome/ssphome.jsp
