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Meeting Date:	01/08/2024
Mental Health Unit OT Grant Authorization Request by the Webb Co Sheriff's Office
Submitted for:	Martin Cuellar	Submitted By:	Anita Guerra
Department:	Sheriff

Subject:

Discussion and possible action to authorize the submission of a Crime Justice grant application as developed, written, and submitted by the Webb County Sheriff’s Office Grant Writer to the Office of the Governor Criminal Justice Division and estimated at $35,000 for overtime and applicable fringe benefits for members of the Mental Health Unit to provide mental health services, including commitments, executions of court orders, and transports to mental health facilities; and authorizing the Webb County Judge to execute all relevant documents; and any other matters incident thereto. This grant does not require any type of match; and, thus will have no impact to the general fund. All required documents were sent for review through the Economic Development Department and the solicitation is compliant with the Webb County Single Point of Contact (SPOC) procedures. [Requested by Martin Cuellar, Webb County Sheriff; Grant Fund #2738]

Issue: The local Laredo/Webb County community continues to constitute a medically and mental health underserved area, which requires mentally ill youth and adults to travel to out-of-town facilities in order to receive these needed mental health services.

Solution: Grant application to provide overtime and applicable fringe benefits for the members of the Mental Health Unit to transport mental health patients to these out-of-town facilities so that they may receive the care that they require.

Result: Grant funding will allow members of the Mental Health Unit to undertake complex and time consuming activities and requirements, including execution of court orders, mental health commitments, and the actual transports to out-of-town mental health facilities, so that the mentally ill patients, their families, and the overall community can be better served.

Background:

Locally, there are very limited in-patient treatment/beds for mental health patients (only 16 beds) for a Laredo/Webb County population of over a quarter of a million.

Previous Court Action:

The court authorizes the submission and acceptance of this grant on a yearly basis.

Fiscal Impact

Budget Account Number:	2738
Funding Source:	Grant Revenue
Balance:	Various
Financial Impact:
$35,000 estimated grant request for OT/Applicable FB for Mental Health Unit. Thus, there will be no impact to the general fund.