ORDER N0. X7821
RRPROVE RESOLUTION FOR
TEXRS DEGRRTMENT DF MENTAL HERLTH
RND MENTRL RETRRDRTIUN
On this the c8th day of October, 2N02, upon motion made by
Commissioner Griffin, seconded by Commissioner- Baldwin, the
Court unanimously approved by a vote of 4-0-0, the Resol~_ition
supporting the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardations' funding r•eq~_iest for- 20Q4 and ^c@05 and s~_ipporting
an increase in funding for• additional services, and a~_ithor•ize
appropriate signatures on the resolution.
COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST
PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND NINE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE
REVIEWED BY THE COURT.
MADE BY: Fred Hen OFFICE:
i
MEETING DATE: October 28.2002
SUBJECT: (PLEASE BE SPECIFIC)
TIME PREFERRED:
Consider and discuss approving Resolution supporting the Texas Department of Mental Health and
Mental Retardation's funding request for 2004 and 2005 and supporting an increase in funding for
additional services.
EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON)
NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THF, COURT:
ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION:
IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE:
Count} Judge
Countv Judge
Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter
551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows:
Meeting scheduled for Mondays:
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY:
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON:
5:00 P.M. previous Tuesday.

All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has been
prepazed for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court Meetings. Your cooperation will be
appreciated and contribute towazds you request being addressed at the eazGest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rules
Adopted by Commissioners' Court.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, [he success and vitality of every Texas community depends on the good health and
productivity of its residents, and;
WHEREAS, the State has found that adults with serious mental illness who do not receive mental health
care are twice as likely to spend time in jails and prison, and a significant percentage of youth who are placed on
probation are in need of mental health care; and
WHEREAS, Texas is [he 2"d fastest growing state and has the 2id largest population, and ye[ Texas ranks
43`~ in the nation in per capita funding for community mental health and mental retardation services, and;
WHEREAS, as a result of Texas' fast growing population, rising health care costs and low per capita
funding, as of June 2002 Kerr County and the other 18 counties served by the Hill Country Community MHMR
Center had a total of 682 people with serious disabilities waiting for needed support services and statewide over
25,000 wait, some have waited for services for over 7 years; and
WHEREAS, the [ 1.5. Surgeon General tells us that one in 5 people will have a mental disorder in any given
year and that, if left untreated, mental disorders can lead to lost productivity, unsuccessful relationships, and
significant dysfunction, and that mental illness in adults can have a significant and continuing effect on the children
in their care, and;
WHEREAS, community mental health and mental rctardation services are a high priority fur the residents
of our county, and;
WHEREAS, our county-appointed community MHMR center board has developed and manages an
accountable system of public mental health and mental retardation services for our area that have proven effective
and efficient with limited funds, and;
WHEREAS, additional funding for services in 2004 and 2005 to meet our growing population and rising
health care costs would benefit our communities by:
I . Adding intensive mental health service options to get high-need adults and youth with serious mental
illness into effective treatment instead of costly services in jails, indigent clinics, hospitals and
institutions;
2. Ending long waiting lists for essential community services which enable Texans with extraordinary
needs to live and work successfully in their community with the support of family and friends;
3. Providing early treatment for young children a[ risk of serious mental disabilities thereby increasing
the opportunity for rehabilitation and reducing [he need for more expensive care in the coming years;
and
4. Strengthening the mental health safety net for our community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Kerr County Commissioners Court to urge the 781h Texas
Legislature to support the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation's funding request for 2004
and 2005, and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that support for increased funding for mental health and mental retardation
services be added to the County's Legislative Platform of issues for [he 78`h Texas Legislature.
UPON MOTION DULY MADE AND SECONDED, the above Resolution was adopted on this the 28t~ay of
October, 2002.
F e Henne e
Kerr County Judge

HILL COUNTRY COMMUNITY
MHMR CENTER
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
819 Water Street, Suite 300
Kemille, Texas 78028
Tel: (830) 792-3300
Fax: (830)792-5771
Web Site: www.hi!lcountrv.org
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chairman:
Judge David Montgomery
Vice Chairman:
Commissioner John flight
Secretary/Treasurer:
Mr Charles Blankenship
On behalf of Hill Country Community MHMR Center, our consumers and their families,
we respectfully request your consideration and support of the enclosed resolution urging
the 78'" Texas Legislature to support the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation's funding request for 2004 and 2005. Texas currently ranks 43r° in the nation
in per capita funding for community mental health and mental retardation services, and
statewide, over 25,000 individuals with serious disabilities have been waiting for needed
support services, some in excess of seven years, due to lack of significant funding.
commis:inner/ock Da,vson According to the U.S. Surgeon General, one in five people will have a mental disorder in
Jndge Nick Gauegos any given yeas If left untreated, mental disorders can lead to lost productivity,
Dr KimCrohor" unsuccessful relationships, and significant dysfunction, impacting the lives of the
Ms ordaconza/ea individuals as well as their families and communities. Additional fundin for mental
Or .Sam Junket g
/ndge //er6 senne health and mental retardation services would benefit our communities by:
EXECUTrvE mRECTOR Y Adding intensive mental health service options [o get high-need adults and youth
Lindu J. Yorker with serious mental illness into effective treatment instead of costly services in
jails, indigent clinics, hospitals and institutions;
- Ending long waiting lists for essential community services which enable Texans
with extraordinary needs to live and work successfully in their community with
the support of family and friends;
Y Providingearly[reatmentforyoungchildrenatriskofseriousmentaldisabilities
thereby increasing the opportunity for rehabilitation and reducing the need for
more expensive care in the coming years; and
Strengthening the mental health safety net for our community.
Your consideration and adoption of the enclosed resolution is respectfully requested. If
you have any questions, please contact me at (830) 792-3300, ext 230.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and support.
stew Liaison
Hill Country CMHMRC
ncerely
~^ nn ~ ~~~~~~~~~77ii
o e aEd"BtTru
Bandera, 6lanco, Comal, Edwards, Gillespie, Hays, Kendall, Kert, Kimble, Kinney,
Llanq Masan, Medina, Menard, Real, Schleicher, Sutton, Uvalde & Val Verde Counties