Health & wellness
Health & wellness
BY VANESSA HOLT
BY JESSICA SHORTEN
Mental health facility expansion proceeds with new leadership
HEAL program provides community, connection at Houston Methodist Housed at Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, Health Education and Learning, or HEAL, is a new program o ering physical, emo- tional and spiritual services for Houston Methodist patients at no cost, ranging from cooking classes to wig styling. The program, which launched in January 2024 and is funded largely through donations, o ers complimentary services in the Cook Family facility at The Woodlands hospital, including spaces for cooking, socializing and other programs for small groups. On any day, one room might have tai chi classes while another holds a sound bath program allowing patients to use singing bowls to create soothing sounds. Support groups and other community resources also contribute to the
holistic programs o ered at no charge to Houston Methodist patients, said Program Manager Marilyn Tennille. Who it’s for The program is open to any Houston Methodist patients at no charge, o cials said. The program is led by Tennille and Lindsey Bruchhaus, the director of guest relations and services for the hospital. In addition, about 10 volunteers help to work with programs each week as well as students through various educational partnerships. “Sometimes we forget about the importance of community concerns,” Tennille said. “Our surgeon general says that loneliness is a public health crisis right now ... and that’s free to treat.”
What else?
Montgomery County Purchasing Director Gilbert Jalomo said the county must move forward on awarding a construction bid for the project by June, and the project must be completed by the end of February 2027 unless otherwise extended. Special Projects Coordinator Brian Luly will take over overseeing the project and providing updates to the court, work previously carried out by Evan Besong, the former Precinct 3 chief of sta . “Brian [Luly] is my project operations guy, and it’s a Precinct 1 project, so we can work hand in hand with anybody that needs to have any discussion on that project,” Walker said. Walker was also made the designated special projects oversight commissioner. Assistant County Attorney Amy Davidson said the move would allow for a more streamlined reporting and monitoring of special countywide projects.
Montgomery County commissioners approved naming Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Walker to oversee the 100-bed expansion of the Montgomery County Mental Health Facility on Jan. 7. Walker requested oversight of the Montgomery County Mental Health Facility expansion project to be shifted from the county to his precinct o ce because the facility is within Precinct 1. The project will double the number of available beds at the Montgomery County Mental Health Facility, funded by a $50 million grant from the Texas Health and Human Services Mental Health Inpatient Facility Grant Program in 2023. The funding came with deadlines for project completion, which the county must meet to prevent losing the funding.
Key deadlines June 2: Contractor approved to begin work April 30, 2026: 50% completion mark Dec. 31, 2026: Substantial completion Feb. 28, 2027: Completion
Patients can take part in tness classes such as tai chi.
VANESSA HOLT COMMUNITY IMPACT
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This feature has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .
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17189 I-45, Ste. 575, The Woodlands www.houstonmethodist.org/for-patients/ heal-program
SOURCE: MONTGOMERY COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE COMMUNITY IMPACT
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