For many years, the State of Texas has shamefully neglected its mentally ill citizens. The state allocates $45.23 annually per citizen for mental health services, ranking 46th among the states. Without access to services, the most severely impaired are forced into the criminal justice system for the protection of themselves and others. County jails are the largest mental health … [Read more...] about The Continuing Mental Health Disgrace
Commissioners Court
Infrastructure Improvement
When Franklin County Commissioner Larkin Jumper took office in 2015, he set a personal goal to learn all he could about road and bridge maintenance. “My background was financial, not construction,” Jumper explained. “I determined which Commissioners had the better roads, and then I sought their advice. I then developed both an annual and a multiyear work plan to rebuild our … [Read more...] about Infrastructure Improvement
County Jail Telemental Health Care
Mental Health: The more services, the better. While mandates require us to provide mental health services, it is the right thing to do. The mental health population inside our jails is not going down anytime soon. It is something all jails and we administrators are experiencing. So my solution is, the more help and services I can provide these citizens, the better … [Read more...] about County Jail Telemental Health Care
Subdivision Regulations
Commissioners Courts Address Growth, Related Safety Issues
When it comes to subdivision regulations, Stevan Sturrock has a triple perspective. Now a Tyler County Commissioner, Sturrock previously worked in county law enforcement and served as justice of the peace. In his earlier roles, he heard firsthand from taxpayers facing the fallout from bare-minimum regulations. For example, during his 14 years on the bench, … [Read more...] about Subdivision Regulations
HHSC Expands Outpatient Competency Restoration Services in Texas
This summer, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced $1 million in federal Mental Health Block Grant funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration to expand Outpatient Competency Restoration (OCR) services for Texans with mental health and substance use disorders living in mostly rural communities. Expanding … [Read more...] about HHSC Expands Outpatient Competency Restoration Services in Texas