Across the nation and within Travis County, a disproportionate number of individuals living with mental health and substance use disorders end up in jail instead of getting the mental health treatment and support they need.
Mental health experts at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin and the Travis County Commissioners’ Court are partnering to convene a wide range of community partners to address this problem by rethinking – and ultimately redesigning – the local intersection of criminal, legal and behavioral health systems. The goal of the effort, known as the Travis County Forensic Mental Health Project, is to establish solutions rooted in person-centered and evidence-based care for people stuck at or repeatedly cycling through this intersection.
Steering Committee meetings began in May 2022. The project is currently evaluating existing systems and establishing working groups to address specific system changes that can lead to possible solutions. By February 2023, the group will provide recommendations to the County Commissioners for implementation. Once complete, the group hopes this work will provide a scalable, replicable model of care for the nation’s mental health system.
This website will provide information and updates on the collaborative work completed by the stakeholders and community experts as they begin their 100-day solution driven challenge.
