Services Available
Our goal is to connect people with quality care, individualized support, and resources that promote well-being, independence, and an improved quality of life.
Explore our programs below to learn more about the services we offer. To find the clinic or service location nearest you, visit our Service Locations page.
Adult Mental Health
Children’s Mental Health
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Services
Little Lives Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)
Specialized Treatment for Early Psychosis
Experiencing early symptoms of psychosis can be confusing and overwhelming for individuals and their families. Early support can make a difference.
The STEP Program (Specialized Treatment for Early Psychosis) at West Texas Centers provides coordinated, recovery-focused support for eligible individuals experiencing early psychosis. The program helps participants understand and manage symptoms, work toward personal goals, and build skills for success in school, employment, relationships, and everyday life.
Our approach focuses on each participant's strengths, preferences, and recovery goals.
- Age: 15-30 years old
- Diagnosis: A qualifying diagnosis, as determined through an assessment.
- Duration of symptoms: Initial psychosis symptoms began within the past two years.
- Substance use: Symptoms are not solely attributable to substance use.
Depending on the participant's needs, the team may include:
- Case Manager: Helps coordinate services, identify resources, and support progress toward personal goals.
- Supported Employment and Education Specialist: Helps participants explore educational opportunities, employment goals, and the support needed to pursue them.
- Clinical Team Lead: Helps guide coordinated care and clinical support.
- Prescriber: Provides medication-related evaluation and treatment when appropriate.
- Participant: Plays an essential role in identifying goals, making informed choices, and guiding their recovery journey.
- Hearing or seeing things that other people do not appear to hear or see.
- Becoming increasingly withdrawn from family members or friends.
- Experiencing unusual thoughts or beliefs that are difficult to explain.
- Feeling unusually fearful, suspicious, or mistrustful of others.
- Having difficulty keeping up with school, work, relationships, or everyday activities.
Substance Abuse Services
Recovery, Support, and a Path Forward
Our goal is to create a supportive environment where individuals can work toward improved mental health, reduced substance-related harm, sustained recovery, and positive changes in their lives. We recognize that recovery is personal, and we work with each individual to identify needs, establish goals, and connect with appropriate services and community supports.
Depending on eligibility and individual needs, services may include:
- Screening and Assessment: Evaluating treatment needs and determining appropriate services and levels of care.
- Individual Counseling: Working one-on-one with a counselor to address substance use, mental health concerns, and recovery goals.
- Family Counseling: Supporting family communication and understanding when appropriate.
- Group Counseling: Providing opportunities to learn, share experiences, and develop recovery skills in a supportive setting.
- Substance Use Education: Building understanding of substance use, its effects, and available treatment options.
- Relapse Prevention: Developing strategies to recognize triggers, manage challenges, and maintain recovery.
- Life and Coping Skills: Strengthening skills for managing stress, daily responsibilities, and life changes.
- Case Management: Connecting individuals with treatment, community resources, and other needed supports.
- Treatment Referrals: Assisting individuals who need detoxification services or inpatient substance use treatment with referrals to appropriate providers.
The outpatient program is designed for individuals whose needs can be appropriately addressed in a community-based setting rather than a residential or inpatient treatment setting. When a higher level of care is needed, staff can assist with referrals to appropriate treatment providers.
Priority criteria and eligibility are determined according to applicable program guidelines and available resources.
- Pregnant individuals who use substances.
- Individuals who inject drugs.
- Individuals referred by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
- Individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
Treatment focuses on each individual's strengths, needs, and recovery goals. As individuals make progress, the treatment team works with them to develop a plan for transitioning from outpatient services to appropriate community supports and recovery resources that can help them maintain progress and continue working toward long-term stability and wellness.
- 3205 S Hwy 87 Allan D. Harris Bldg Big Spring, TX 79720
- (432)264-2786
Little Lives Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)
Every child develops at their own pace. If you have concerns about your child's communication, movement, learning, or other developmental skills, Little Lives ECI can help you explore available services and support.
You know your child best. If you have questions about your child's development, we're here to help you explore the next steps.
Our team partners with families to identify developmental goals and find practical ways to help children learn, grow, and participate in daily life.
Services We Provide:
Based on your child's needs and eligibility, services may include:
Our team partners with families to identify developmental goals and find practical ways to help children learn, grow, and participate in daily life.
Services We Provide:
Based on your child's needs and eligibility, services may include:
- Speech and Language Therapy: Supporting communication and language development.
- Physical Therapy: Supporting movement, strength, balance, and motor skills.
- Occupational Therapy: Helping children develop skills for everyday activities.
- Specialized Skills Training: Supporting developmental skills for infants and toddlers.
- Pathways Early Autism Intervention: Specialized support through the Pathways program for eligible children.
- Feeding and Swallowing Therapy: Addressing feeding skills and swallowing-related needs.
- Case Management and Service Coordination: Helping families connect with services, resources, and supports.
- Family Education: Providing information and strategies to help families support their child's development.
- Infant Massage: Support related to infant massage, when appropriate and available.
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services: Supporting children with hearing-related needs and their families.
- Visual Impairment Services: Supporting children with visual impairments and their families.
Our team can explain eligibility requirements, answer your questions, and help you understand the next steps.
Call the Little Lives ECI Referral Line
Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Waiver
- Be between 3 and 18 years old.
- Have serious mental, emotional, and behavioral difficulties.
- Have a qualifying mental health diagnosis.
- Be at risk of being placed outside the home because of mental health needs.
- Meet the clinical criteria for psychiatric hospitalization.
- Meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
- Meet applicable living arrangement and other program requirements.
Eligibility is determined through the required assessment and review process. Meeting some of these criteria does not automatically guarantee enrollment.
A parent's income is not counted when determining Medicaid financial eligibility for the YES Waiver. A child who does not currently receive Medicaid may still qualify through the waiver's special financial eligibility rules.
Our team can help families understand the process and determine what information may be needed.
- Respite: Temporary support that gives caregivers a break from caregiving responsibilities.
- Community Living Supports: Assistance developing skills and participating in everyday community life.
- Family Supports: Services and resources that strengthen the family's ability to support the youth.
- Transitional Services: Assistance with eligible transition needs.
- Adaptive Aids and Supports: Eligible items and supports that help meet identified needs.
- Minor Home Modifications: Approved changes to the home when necessary and appropriate.
- Non-Medical Transportation: Transportation support for eligible needs.
- Paraprofessional Services: Support provided by qualified paraprofessionals as part of the service plan.
- Professional Services: Eligible services provided by qualified professionals.
- Supportive Family-Based Alternatives: Family-based support options for eligible youth when appropriate.
The specific services available to each participant depend on assessed needs, program requirements, and the approved service plan.
To learn more or request information about a referral:
Email: yes@wtcmhmr.org
Phone: 1-888-336-3362
Our team can explain the inquiry and assessment process, discuss eligibility requirements, and help families understand the next steps.
Reach out to West Texas Centers to learn more about the YES Waiver and available options for your family.
The Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Waiver is a 1915 (c) Medicaid Home and Community Based Services waiver that allows for more flexibility in the funding of intensive community based services for children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbance and their families.
To participate in the YES Waiver, the child or adolescent must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be between the ages of 3-18 years;
- Reside in the West Texas Center service area;
- Reside in a non-institutional setting with the child or adolescent’s Legally Authorized Representative (LAR); or in the child or adolescent’s own home or apartment, if legally emancipated;
- Be eligible for Medicaid, under a Medicaid Eligibility Group included in the approved waiver; Parental income is not counted in financial eligibility;
- Choose, or have the LAR choose, the Waiver program services as an alternative to care in an inpatient psychiatric facility;
- Meets Department State Health Services (DSHS) clinical criteria (including, but not limited to risk of self-harm, risk of severe disruptive or aggressive behavior, family resources, and risk of school behavior); and
- There must be a reasonable expectation that, without Waiver services, the child or adolescent would qualify for inpatient care under the Texas Medicaid inpatient psychiatric admission guidelines
A child or adolescent must be eligible for Medicaid. If you are a current Medicaid recipient, you may already meet financial requirements for the YES Waiver and/or additional information may be required. If you are not a current Medicaid recipient, you may quality to receive Medicaid through the YES Waiver (Special Waiver Income Group)
The following services are provided under the YES Waiver:
- Respite
- Community Living Supports
- Family Supports
- Transitional Services
- Adaptive Aids and Supports
- Minor Home Modifications
- Non-Medical Transportation
- Paraprofessional Services
- Professional Services
- Supportive Family Based Alternatives
Families or the Legal Authorized Representative of an eligible child or youth who are interested in referring their child to the YES Waiver Services Program or to obtain more information please contact yes@wtcmhmr.org or call 1-888-336-3362
Mental Health First Aid Training
Just as physical first aid prepares people to respond to a medical emergency, Mental Health First Aid teaches participants how to recognize potential mental health concerns, offer initial support, and help someone access appropriate care.
Whether you are a parent, educator, healthcare professional, employer, or community member, this training can help you feel more prepared to support someone experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge.
What Does Mental Health First Aid Teach?
- Recognize warning signs: of mental health and substance use challenges.
- Use a five-step action plan: to assess a situation and offer appropriate initial support.
- Understand the impact: of mental health and substance use disorders on individuals, families, and communities.
- Respond with confidence and compassion: when someone may be experiencing a mental health crisis.
- Connect people with help: by identifying local resources and appropriate professional support.
Why Become a Mental Health First Aider?
- Be prepared: Learn how to respond when someone may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge.
- Make a difference: Your support may help someone feel heard, understood, and encouraged to seek help.
- Build awareness: Mental health challenges affect individuals, families, workplaces, and communities.
- Support someone you care about: Learn practical ways to help a friend, family member, coworker, student, or neighbor.
These courses are designed for different age groups and situations. Contact our training representatives to learn which course is appropriate for your needs, organization, or community.
Contact Information:
We have the following courses for Youth Mental Health First Aid open for enrollment at 3205 S. Highway 87, Room 100, Big Spring, TX or your individual location.
- 1/8/2026 West Texas CentersAdultIn-PersonBig Spring Texasmariah.rivera@wtcmhmr.org
- 1/16/2026 TSTC Adult Blended VirtualVirtualmariah.rivera@wtcmhmr.org
- 1/21/2026 TSTC Adult Blended VirtualVirtualmariah.rivera@wtcmhmr.org
- 1/23/2026 TSTC AdultBlended VirtualVirtualmariah.rivera@wtcmhmr.org
- 3/5/2026West Texas CentersAdultIn-PersonBig Spring, Texasmariah.rivera@wtcmhmr.org
- 4/30/2026West Texas CentersAdultIn-PersonBig Spring, Texasmariah.rivera@wtcmhmr.org
- 6/25/2026 West Texas CentersAdultIn-PersonBig Spring, Texasmariah.rivera@wtcmhmr.org
- 8/20/2026 West Texas CentersAdultIn-PersonBig Spring, Texasmariah.rivera@wtcmhmr.org
- 10/15/2026 West Texas CentersAdultIn-PersonBig Spring, Texasmariah.rivera@wtcmhmr.org
- 12/10/2026 West Texas CentersAdultIn-PersonBig Spring, Texasmariah.rivera@wtcmhmr.org
Youth Mental Health First Aid Courses
Big Spring, TX
Youth Mental Health First Aid courses may be offered at the address shown. Training may also be available at your organization's location, subject to scheduling and availability.
Contact us to ask about current enrollment opportunities, upcoming course dates, and registration requirements.
Upcoming Training Opportunities
West Texas Centers offers Mental Health First Aid training to help participants recognize signs of mental health and substance use challenges, respond with confidence, and connect people with appropriate support and resources.
Training opportunities may include Adult Mental Health First Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, and specialized training for public safety professionals. Courses may be offered in person, virtually, or through a blended format.
October 2026
3 courses| Date | Course and host | Location | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2026 | Public SafetyAndrews County Sheriff's Department | Andrews, Texas | In person |
| October 28, 2026 | Reeves County EMSFEMS | Pecos, Texas | In person |
| October 30, 2026 | Youth Mental Health First AidGrandfalls ISD | Grandfalls, Texas | Blended and in person |
November 2026
6 courses| Date | Course and host | Location | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2, 2026 | YouthRegion 18 | Midland, Texas | In person |
| November 3, 2026 | Public SafetyAndrews County Sheriff's Department | Andrews, Texas | In person |
| November 5, 2026 | AdultWest Texas Centers | Virtual | Blended |
| November 9, 2026 | YouthMidland ISD | Midland, Texas | In person |
| November 20, 2026 | YouthRegion 15 | Virtual | Blended |
| November 30, 2026 | YouthEctor County ISD | Odessa, Texas | In person |
December 2026
2 courses| Date | Course and host | Location | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 7, 2026 | YouthRegion 18 | Midland, Texas | In person |
| December 10, 2026 | AdultWest Texas Centers | Big Spring, Texas | In person |
January 2027
2 courses| Date | Course and host | Location | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 11, 2027 | YouthRegion 18 | Midland, Texas | In person |
| January 20, 2027 | AdultHoward College | Big Spring, Texas | In person |
February 2027
3 courses| Date | Course and host | Location | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 1, 2027 | YouthLoraine ISD | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
| February 8, 2027 | YouthRegion 18 | Midland, Texas | In person |
| February 12, 2027 | Youth Mental Health First Aid | Virtual | Blended |
March 2027
2 courses| Date | Course and host | Location | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 1, 2027 | YouthRegion 18 | Midland, Texas | In person |
| March 11, 2027 | YouthRegion 15 | Virtual | Blended |
April 2027
1 course| Date | Course and host | Location | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2027 | YouthRegion 18 | Midland, Texas | In person |
May 2027
1 course| Date | Course and host | Location | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 2027 | YouthRegion 18 | Midland, Texas | In person |
Interested in Mental Health First Aid Training?
For course information, availability, and registration details, contact:
- Training coordinator
- Mariah Rivera Email Mariah Rivera
Please contact the training coordinator to confirm course availability, eligibility, registration requirements, and whether a course is open to the public.



