In the face of an escalating overdose crisis, Travis County is digging in its heels with a new Mental Health Diversion Pilot Program, slated to offer an alternative to incarceration for individuals grappling with mental health and drug emergencies. The initiative aims to fully launch by the summer, providing round-the-clock access to care over tossing people behind bars, according to CBS Austin.
"There's a lot of people who seek help for mental health issues and end up using, illegal substances and those two things go hand in hand with each other," Judge Andy Brown told CBS Austin. His aim is to create a system that not only declogs the criminal justice pipeline but effectively intervenes to dramatically curb the potential for overdoses.
The program is getting a significant financial injection, with the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approving a $6 million contract with Integral Care, as reported by KVUE. The total budget for the three-year program amounts to $23 million, funded collectively by Travis County, the City of Austin, Central Health, and Integral Care itself.
"It will provide 24-hour access to police and EMS and others that want to bring people in who are having a mental health issue or crisis, they'll get treatment," said Judge Brown, according to a CBS Austin report. To start, the program plans to accept 25 individuals, with a promise to expand as more resources become available.
The pilot program isn't just a band-aid solution; it presents a broader vision for Austin's social infrastructure. This 90-day treatment program at a 25-bed Downtown Austin facility is expected to roll out soon after the Austin City Council finalizes its contract with Integral Care by the end of May.
