MORONGO BASIN MENTAL HEALTH FINANCIALLY UNABLE TO CONTINUE, WILL CLOSE JUNE 30

The Morongo Basin Mental Health Association announced Thursday that it is “financially unable to continue”, and will be closing June 30. For the last 40 years, the MBMH has been a contract provider for the county, providing mental health and substance abuse services, such as the Counseling and Recovery Services, the Crisis Walk-In Center, the Family Resource Center, the Joshua Tree Drug Court, Panorama Ranch, and clinics in Twentynine Palms, Lucerne Valley, Big Bear, and Barstow. Chief Executive Officer Beverly Ary emphasized it is the County’s responsibility to provide these services, but the MBMH Board of Directors determined that, due to funding cutbacks, they could no longer continue operations. Ary said the Board met with County Supervisor James Ramos’s staff to make sure he and the county was aware of the impending closure, and she is optimistic that the County will find another contract provider to take over. Ary is hopeful the new contract provider will hire the staff at Morongo Basin Mental Health, saying they are well trained and familiar with the area and their clients and would provide a continuity of care.