San Luis Valley Behavioral Health Group (SLVBHG) celebrated the grand opening of their new Fort Garland clinic with an open house ribbon-cutting event. SLVBHG’s leadership team, including CEO Fernando Martinez, and members of the Board of Directors, and community supporters, were featured, speakers. Board members in attendance at the event include Board President Laurie Rivera, Louise Sanchez, Richard Pacheco, Patrick Stanford, Brenda Vialpando, Richard DeHerrera, and Michael Carson.   

Following a catered reception by the All-Gon local restaurant and pizzeria and VIP tours of the new outlying clinic, CEO Fernando Martinez opened the afternoon’s celebration.

Martinez announced that the community should be proud of all the phenomenal achievements made thus far. SLVBHG has created more access to quality behavioral healthcare for the Valley’s most vulnerable groups, especially by opening clinics in outlying areas, such as the Fort Garland location.

Martinez then thanked vital community partnerships, including those between SLVBHG and Costilla County’s Department of Social Services and Costilla County. Tommy Vigil, director of Costilla County DSS, and Robert Espinoza, Costilla County Commissioner, were also present at the open house event.

Each of them joined in the excitement of the ribbon-cutting ceremony to show their support. 

“This facility is an accomplishment beyond belief,” Martinez stated. “Today, we had the opportunity to host an open house in honor of the opening of our clinic location in Fort Garland. We are pleased to offer citizens in the surrounding area quality care closer to home!”   

Laurie Rivera, President of SLVBHG’s Board of Directors, followed Martinez’s speech, noting the potential for further growth and the agency’s historic prosperity in serving the people of the San Luis Valley for over fifty years. 

Over the decades, SLVBHG has worked to increase access to services throughout the entire Valley.

Before the Fort Garland clinic opening, Alamosa, Monte Vista, Antonito, and other surrounding municipalities offered services, with the Mobile Medication-Assisted Treatment Recreation Vehicle rotating to different locations regularly. The addition of the Fort Garland facility marks SLVBHG’s tenth location in the Valley, not including their mobile unit.

“This location has been a missing piece in our community for a long time,” Martinez said.

“We have people from our community that had to travel to Alamosa to receive care. Now, we can better meet the needs of the residents of Fort Garland.”

Design work for this project began in 2019 according to the leadership team at SLVBHG. 

Optimum amenities for behavioral healthcare needs are among the facilities offerings, including:

- Multiple offices

- Play Therapy Room

- Large Meeting / Conference Space

This nearly 2,500-square-foot facility is open on Mondays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To get more information or schedule an appointment, call 719-589-3671, or visit them on the web at slvbhg.org. To stay up-to-date on events, activities, and other San Luis Valley Behavioral Health Group publications, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok @slvbhg.