The Greater San Antonio Chamber recently convened an urgent joint meeting of its Healthcare Council and Public Policy Council to address the growing behavioral health crisis facing the region.
More than 75 business leaders, healthcare executives, nonprofit organizations, elected officials and community stakeholders gathered to examine the far-reaching implications of the closure of Laurel Ridge Treatment Center and explore how the Greater Chamber and its members can help support solutions to this escalating community challenge.
In his remarks, Kevin Dinnin, Chair of the Greater San Antonio Chamber and President and CEO of FirstDay Foundation, outlined why and how the chamber plans to get involved. “The chamber cares because this challenge impacts the overall health of our citizens and the economic health of our community. The chamber’s Councils will make a recommendation to the board of directors as to whether we should weigh in on this issue and use the muscle of our members to advocate for potential solutions.”
Jelynne LeBlanc Jamison, President and CEO of the Center for Health Care Services (CHCS), and Jordan Ghawi, Chief Strategy Officer for the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC), discussed the existing strain on the region’s behavioral health infrastructure, the additional pressure created by the Laurel Ridge closure and the immediate steps local partners have taken to stabilize the system.
The Greater Chamber has launched a joint task force from the Healthcare and Public Policy Councils to help evaluate potential solutions and develop a recommended advocacy approach related to the future of Laurel Ridge and the broader health capacity challenges facing the community.