SAN ANGELO, TX -- MHMR of the Concho Valley Executive Director Greg Rowe will ask Tom Green County Commissioners on Tuesday to commit in-kind contributions to a new state funded mental health court which would assist mentally ill individuals in getting treatment and keep them out of the Tom Green County jail.
As we reported last week according to Rowe, Senate Bill 292 (SB 292) provides state funding for a mental health court to handle post booking issues for individuals with mental issues who are arrested. Those services include getting social security and medicaid benefits to keep those individuals out of the county jail. Currently there is a program for jail diversion for people who are detained through the Mental Health Deputy department.
According to Tuesday’s agenda, Commissioners will consider a Resolution for the Commitment of Matching Funds, SB 292 Mental Health Grant Program for Justice-Involved Individuals - MHMR Services for the Concho Valley Application.
According to Texas Legislature Online, Senate Bill 292 amends the Government Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission to establish a program to provide grants to eligible county-based community collaboratives for the purposes of reducing recidivism and incarceration of persons with mental illness and reducing the total waiting time for forensic commitment of persons with mental illness to a state hospital.
Tom Green County will be eligible for funding for the mental health court in 2019.
On a related note, Commissioners will consider a memorandum of understanding between the Tom Green Co. Sheriff’s office and jail and La Esperanza Clinic for mental health evaluations.
Tom Green County Commissioners meet at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday May 8 on the second floor of the Keyes building at 113 W. Beauregard.
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