Roosevelt County commission approves Regional Behavioral Health Plan, clearing access to $6.6 million for District 9

Madam Chair and the Roosevelt County Commission on a unanimous vote approved the 2026 Regional Behavioral Health Plan for Judicial District 9, enabling the region to access $6.6 million in state legislative funding intended for behavioral-health system reform.

Bethany Bzowski, regional behavioral health administrator, told the commission the plan focuses on crisis, acute and higher-level care across Roosevelt and Curry counties and that Region 9 has been awarded $6.6 million over the plan period. "At this point in time, region 9 ... has been awarded 6.6 million for the course of that project year," Bzowski said, adding that about $5.7 million is allocated to the Horizon Behavioral Health Center crisis triage center in Clovis and $875,000 is reserved for regional implementation, evaluation and administration.

The presenters described the crisis triage model as a launch-and-stabilize approach intended to reduce emergency-room transports. Sarah Co, the contractor who helped draft the plan, said the new center will include a 16-room inpatient area and 12 recliners for short-term stabilization; statutory changes allow stays of up to 14 days in some cases. "The long-term goal of this plan is to ensure that there are no gaps in the launch of the crisis triage center within Clovis to ensure that we can help reduce and mitigate emergency room utilization," Co said.

Commissioners and local law-enforcement representatives asked how the regional allocation would affect Roosevelt County’s budget and indigent-care obligations. Commissioner Parker asked, "What is our portion of this?" Presenters replied the $6.6 million is a regional allocation for Judicial District 9, not a fixed per-county split, and that the state funds were intended to cover start-up standup costs so individual counties would not be required to reallocate already-set budgets.

Some commissioners warned about sustainability after state funding runs out and raised concerns about using local opioid-settlement funds for startup. One commissioner said the attorney general’s guidance now restricts opioid money to patient-level expenditures, limiting its use for capital startup costs. Presenters acknowledged constraints and said the plan allows later amendments and that other sources—Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement, private insurance, MCO settlement funds and competitive grants (for example, Community Development Block Grants)—would be pursued to close remaining gaps.

Senator Boone, who said he had voted against some related bills to make a point about crime policy, said he supported establishing local clinics despite expressing broader concerns about crime policy and legislative pace.

A motion to approve item 6A passed unanimously. The commission’s approval enables the region to proceed with the plan required for the state HCA and positions the 지역 partners to apply the allocated funds toward opening and operating the crisis triage center.

The commission did not enter into any provider contract at the meeting; presenters and staff emphasized that a contract would not be executed until funding and necessary permits (including certificate of occupancy and state licensure) are in place.