Mono County: Breaking Down Barriers, Building Relationships
At the junction of Highways 120 and 6 in eastern Mono County — 37 miles from Bishop and 51 from Lee Vining — sits the isolated, rural community of Benton. There is little evidence left of Benton’s rich mining history. The town is now home to either 164 or 282 residents — depending on which state sign you believe when you enter the town. The Benton Paiute Reservation is just a few miles away. The surrounding region, sitting more than 5,700 feet above sea level under the towering Mt. Montgomery, is desolate yet beautiful.
For those accustomed to the hustle and bustle of city life, the silence can be almost frightening. You have to be a special type of person to live in this community that has a long history of both poverty and resilience.
Frankly, it’s easy to overlook Benton. But not for the Mono County Behavioral Health staff. Department Director Robin Roberts and her team accepted the challenge to see what they could do to engage residents living in desolate, outlying areas.