Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of an amendment to an interlocal agreement with Austin Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation Center d/b/a Integral Care for the Mental Health Diversion Pilot, a multi-partner mental health diversion pilot program, to add one-time funding in an amount not to exceed $300,000 and to extend the current term of the agreement through September 30, 2025, for a revised total agreement amount not to exceed $2,000,000. Funding: $300,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund.
De
Lead Department
Community Court.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $300,000 is included in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund.
Prior Council Action
May 30, 2024 - Council approved negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with Integral Care to implement a Mental Health Diversion Pilot, a multi-partner mental health diversion pilot program, for a 13-month term beginning June 1, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $1,700,000, on an 11-0 vote.
For More Information:
Robert Kingham, Court Administrator, Downtown Austin Community Court (512) 974-1394.
Additional Backup Information:
The Mental Health Diversion Pilot (Pilot) is a collaboration between Travis County, Central Health, Integral Care, and Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC). The Pilot leverages existing programs and facilities to expand community services to immediately address unmet deflection and diversion needs and provide members of the community experiencing behavioral health crises with access services.
The Pilot leverages Integral Care’s Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) program on Airport Blvd. and repurposes Integral Care’s 15th Street crisis residential program, located in a City-owned facility, for a Therapeutic Respite Center (TRP) to help address the following persistent challenges in our community:
1. Law enforcement and other emergency service entities do not have a consistent place to take individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis for services. As a result, individuals are taken to jail or a hospital, which are often not the appropriate setting to address a behavioral health crisis.
2. Individuals continually cycle in and out of jail, hospitals, and/or homelessness because there is no dedicated pathway for this population to concurrently receive extended clinical behavioral health treatment in a residential setting while being connected to long-term supportive housing.
The Pilot expands service hours at PES to 24/7 operations including access to a prescriber onsite and 23-hour observation services. PES services are run by Integral Care, and funded by Central Health and Travis County.
The TRP component of the Pilot provides access to up to 90 days of care including behavioral health services, peer support, and working toward connection to stable exit options through housing-focused case management services. TRP is funded through Travis County and the City of Austin.
Approval of this item will authorize Amendment No. 1 to this program to add $300,000 and extend the agreement term by three months to sustain pilot services through the end of this fiscal year.
The original agreement was approved for an initial 13-month term in an amount up to $1,700,000 for costs associated with the TRP component of the Pilot, including housing-focused case management, peer support services, and other operational expenses.