Bell county purchased and renovated a 16-bed facility to establish the bell county diversion center (bcdc) a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to improving community mental health outcomes and…

The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded a $1,600,000 Project Grant (CFDA 16.753 - Congressionally Recommended Awards) to Bell County, Texas to establish the Bell County Diversion Center (BCDC), a 16-bed mental health crisis stabilization facility. The BCDC will provide triage, crisis residential treatment, and competency restoration services to individuals whose mental health issues are the primary cause of their involvement with the criminal justice system. The grant funding will support the first four years of the BCDC's operations, primarily for crisis respite, residential supervision, and security services, anticipated to serve up to 390 individuals with mental health illnesses annually in Bell County and the surrounding region. The BCDC aims to improve community mental health outcomes, reduce the incarceration rate of individuals with mental health illnesses who commit low-level offenses, and increase capacity in the local jail and emergency rooms.

Bell county purchased and renovated a 16-bed facility to establish the bell county diversion center (bcdc) a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to improving community mental health outcomes and reducing the incarceration rate of individuals with mental health illnesses. Set to open its doors in the fall of 2024, the bcdc will provide triage, crisis residential treatment, and competency restoration services to individuals whose mental health illness is the primary cause of their justice involvement. The bcdc will primarily serve bell county, texas, as well as, neighboring coryell, hamilton, lampasas, and milam counties. The bcdc aims to improve capacity in the bell county jail and area emergency rooms, improve community mental health outcomes, and reduce the incarceration rate of individuals with mental health illnesses who commit low-level offenses. As such, the bcdc will offer a less restrictive environment that reduces low-level offense arrests and promotes long-term stability through skills training, medication management, supported housing and employment, and peer support services. Federal funding will be utilized to support the first four years of the bcdcs operations, primarily for crisis respite, residential supervision, and security services. These services are anticipated to support up to 390 individuals with mental health illnesses annually.