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Laredo, Texas—U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced that he secured $4 million for the City of Laredo Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program, for individuals with serious mental illness, through the city health department. The AOT Program is an integrated behavioral approach with the goal of improving access and adherence to intensive behavioral health services in order to avert relapse, repeated hospitalizations, arrests, incarcerations, suicide, property destruction, and violent behaviors in the Webb County region.

The Laredo AOT Program proposes to serve 40 participants for the first year, 80 during the second year, 100 during the third year and 120 during the fourth year for a grand total of 340 participants with serious mental illness which will receive integrated behavioral health treatment and comprehensive medical care services.

“Mental health services are so important for the safety of the individual with the illness, and the community around them. Mental health services allow the patient to get the support the need as efficiently and safely as possible,” said Congressman Cuellar, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. “The grant awarded today will ensure that more than 300 Webb County residents have access to the medical help they need to avert a relapse or to prevent further harm to themselves or others. I am thankful for the City of Laredo Health Department that works hard every day to ensure Webb County residents stay healthy and safe. I will continue to prioritize mental health funding as your representative in Congress.”

“The City of Laredo Health Department’s (CLHD) Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Program for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness is another step in the direction towards achieving health equity in Laredo. The CLHD’s AOT program will support evidence-based practices in order to reduce the incidence and duration of psychiatric hospitalization, homelessness, incarceration, and interactions with the criminal justice system while improving the health and social outcomes of individuals with a serious mental illness (SMI),” said Dr. Richard A. Chamberlain, Director of the City of Laredo Health Department.

More specifically, the program will aim to make mental health services more accessible. Services will be focused on providing intensive case management which include behavioral health screening and support services (psychoeducation, support groups), psychiatric services, medication management, intensive case management, outreach services, HIV/STD testing, education and risk reduction, as well as primary care.

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