Project Grant H79SM089490

BLUEBONNET TRAILS COMMUNITY SERVICES: EXPANDING EARLY DIVERSION AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES - DURING THE FIVE-YEAR GRANT PERIOD, BLUEBONNET TRAILS COMMUNITY SERVICES (BTCS) SEEKS TO SERVE AT LEAST 1,125 ADULTS AND YOUTHS WHO ARE AT RISK OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT DUE TO MENTAL ILLNESS OR CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS. IN OUR CENTRAL TEXAS SERVICE AREA OF CALDWELL, GONZALES, AND GUADALUPE COUNTIES, THE AWARD WILL FUND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS TO ASSESS AN AVERAGE OF 225 PERSONS ANNUALLY AND DIVERT THEM FROM ARREST INTO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE WHEN APPROPRIATE. WE AIM TO ACHIEVE TWO PROJECT GOALS: 1) INCREASING PRE-BOOKING JAIL DIVERSIONS FOR PERSONS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL ILLNESS OR CO-OCCURRING DISORDER TO REDUCE PREVENTABLE ARRESTS AND UNNECESSARILY LENGTHY INCARCERATIONS, AND 2) INCREASING ACCESS TO EVIDENCE-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CRISIS RELAPSE OR FUTURE OFFENDING. TO FULFILL GOAL 1, BTCS HAS IDENTIFIED THREE COINCIDING MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES: 1) ESTABLISH AN INTERAGENCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKGROUP (COMPRISED OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, LOCAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, SPECIALTY COURTS, JUVENILE JUSTICE AND CHILD ADVOCACY AGENCIES, COMMUNITY SHELTERS, VETERAN-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS, AND FIRST RESPONDERS) TO MEET ON A QUARTERLY BASIS TO ADVANCE EARLY DIVERSION STRATEGIES IN THE SERVICE AREA; 2) TRAIN 75 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS/DEPUTIES, DISPATCHERS, ATTORNEYS, CIVILIAN FIRST RESPONDERS, PARAPROFESSIONALS, VETERAN-SERVING ORGANIZATION PERSONNEL, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS EACH PROJECT YEAR ON THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE DE-ESCALATION AND CRISIS RESOLUTION TECHNIQUES, AND DIVERSION RESOURCES; AND 3) TRACK THE NUMBER OF PERSONS DIVERTED FROM ARREST DUE TO THIS PROJECT AND ENSURE A FIVE PERCENT INCREASE IN DIVERSIONS EACH YEAR. TO FULFILL GOAL 2, BTCS HAS IDENTIFIED TWO COINCIDING MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES: 1) COORDINATE A REGIONAL SEQUENTIAL INTERCEPT MAPPING (SIM) EXERCISE FOR CALDWELL, GONZALES AND GUADALUPE COUNTY STAKEHOLDERS TO MAP EXISTING AND FUTURE EARLY DIVERSION RESOURCES; AND 2) BUILD A DATA REPORT IN OUR ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD TO TRACK AND REPORT THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ASSESSED AND CONNECTED TO TREATMENT, ALONG WITH DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION TO ASCERTAIN LOCAL DISPARITIES AND TARGETED DIVERSION STRATEGIES. BASED ON ASSESSED NEEDS, MULTI-DISCIPLINARY RESPONSE TEAMS WILL CONNECT PERSONS WITH A VARIETY OF TRAUMA-INFORMED AND EVIDENCE-BASED SERVICES, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT; ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT; MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT; SUPPORTED HOUSING, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT; CARE COORDINATION; PRIMARY AND DENTAL CARE; SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT (INCLUDING MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT); MULTISYSTEMIC THERAPY (MST) FOR AT-RISK YOUTH, AND 24-HOUR RESPITE PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS OR YOUTH. BLUEBONNET TRAILS COMMUNITY SERVICES WILL ALSO PROVIDE PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING USING EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULA SUCH AS ILLNESS MANAGEMENT RECOVERY (IMR), ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT (ACT), AND SEEKING SAFETY. CASE MANAGERS SERVING YOUTH WILL RECEIVE TRAINING IN SKILLSTREAMING, SEEKING SAFETY, WRAPAROUND, NURTURING PARENTING, AND PREPARING ADOLESCENTS FOR YOUNG ADULTHOOD (PAYA).