Emergence Health Network, or EHN, is expanding its mental health services with a new behavioral health campus on the city’s east side, part of a broader effort to meet growing behavioral health needs in El Paso.

The expansion includes extended observation units, short-term crisis residential services, and an adult diversion center. The project comes as the city continues to face a shortage of health care providers and elevated rates of depression and suicide, according to the city of El Paso. For EHN, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary, this marks another step in expanding access to local behavioral health care.

“We’ve always thought that we needed to expand east,” said Kristi Daugherty, chief executive officer at EHN. “We just weren’t sure how far east.”

The decision to construct the new campus was influenced by accessibility for the El Paso Police Department and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

“It’s easier for the sheriff to come into the city limits to access resources than it is for the police to go outside of the city limits,” Daugherty said.

That focus on accessibility aims to improve response times and reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and incarceration rates.

The project is largely funded by a $50 million grant from Health and Human Services, which faced potential setbacks but was secured through Daugherty’s collaborative efforts.

My team put together a $50 million construction budget and a $12 million operating budget and got it approved. There was some posturing in Austin to take it away from El Paso, and state Rep. Mary González and I worked very closely in those 24 hours to basically save those $50 million for El Paso. So, we didn’t lose it.”

The new campus could further expand access to mental health services across 11 acres of land.

EHN’s commitment to accessible services is also reflected in partnerships such as Mind Lab.

“It’s a therapeutic space,” Hurtado said. “It looks beautiful, and kids can go in there and talk to staff members, make an appointment, and if a parent has a question about getting their kids enrolled in mental health services, they can go and speak to someone.”

The EHN Mind Lab is a dedicated lounge space inside the Boys & Girls Club of El Paso, 801 Florence St., designed to provide behavioral health resources and a supportive environment for local children and teenagers.

The initiative officially launched in March 2026, with programs focused on career readiness and academic achievement.

“It’s innovative, and it’s different,” Hurtado said. “We’re just thrilled as we can be that the Boys & Girls Club has agreed to do this, and we’re hoping to have a lot of good data, good outcomes, for a patient population that may not be able to access services as others in the community.”

EHN is also launching a mobile library van sponsored by FirstLight Federal Credit Union to bring mental health education, suicide prevention, and financial wellness to the community.

“If you can’t make your rent, you’re not going to be in the best frame of mind. So, we said we would love to talk about the financial resources available through FirstLight and the mental health resources available through Emergence,” Hurtado said. 

EHN’s goal is to provide services where people are.

“We’re looking to go to where people are,” Hurtado said, “to make sure people learn about us, and have the ability to access services when they need to.”

Through its expanding services, community partnerships, and focus on accessibility, EHN is working to address mental health needs across El Paso and provide additional support for some of the region’s most vulnerable residents.

According to Daugherty, EHN closed on the land May 19, clearing the way for the organization to begin the planning and design phase of the new behavioral health campus. Groundbreaking is expected in the fall.