Mental Health Services Get $6 Million Boost From Commissioners

CONROE, TX — American Rescue Plan Act funds will help cover a need in east Montgomery County for mental health services.

In its Tuesday meeting, the Montgomery County Commissioners Court approved the use of up to $6 million from the funds to help re-establish Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare's mental health services through Dec. 31, 2022.

After the court reconvened from closed session, Precinct 4 Commissioner James Metts made the motion, which also included authorizing County Attorney B.D. Griffin to negotiate an interlocal agreement with Tri-County and County Judge Mark Keough to execute the agreement once it is reached.

"We have an opportunity to be a shining light, so to speak, here in Montgomery County in putting together something to help," Metts said.

The effort to re-establish Tri-County's mental health presence in east Montgomery County comes a couple weeks after commissioners approved the addition of seven deputies and three sergeants to Precinct 1 Constable Philip Cash's Mental Health Division and Crisis Intervention Team. In that meeting, Cash indicated that after the formation of the division, mental health calls saw a decline, but the pandemic reversed the trend. Cash said mental health calls were up 52 percent in 2020 and continuing to rise in 2021.

"There's no doubt that this year has created a lot of this problem," Precinct 1 Commissioner Charlie Riley said. "I don’t see this problem going away any time soon when and if we ever get the current situation under control. It’s going to be a long term issue to deal with."

Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Walker also pointed out that using ARPA money to fund health services was a temporary measure, and the Commissioners Court needed to "work toward a future for this funding."