“Texas works to expand access to critical mental health resources to get the support they need, wherever Texans live.”
– Governor Greg Abbott
Texas Insider Report: Austin, Texas – Gov. Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas Health and Human Services Committee is awarding a $239 million construction grant to expand and improve access to hospitalized mental health care in rural Texas. The grants help rural communities treat and stabilize patients with acute mental illness without the need to travel to major cities.
“Texas works to expand access to critical mental health resources to get the support they need, wherever Texans live,” Gov. Abbott said.
“This $239 million investment will allow rural communities and local governments to bring patients with acute mental illness closer to their homes as Texas expands its inpatient mental health services.”
The funding supports up to 332 beds for mental health patients in hospitals in four communities. HHSC awarded:
$85 million for up to 100 beds from DHR Health in Edinburg. $64 million for repairs, renovations and construction to add 72 beds to Baptist Hospital in Southeast Texas in Beaumont. $50 million to expand Conroe’s existing Montgomery County Mental Health Treatment facility with up to 100 beds. $40 million for a new Victoria County facility with up to 60 beds. Governor Abbott and the 88th Texas Congress have approved funds to build or expand four mental health facilities to have the capacity of at least 50% of forensic patients ordered to be in the state hospital for capacity restoration. Forensic patients are patients admitted to state hospitals through the criminal justice system, and restoring competence is the process of restoring a person’s ability to withstand trials.
The grant agreements implemented are at various stages of design and document development.
“We would like to thank our members of the Texas Legislature and the Texas Health and Human Services Committee for their continued work has increased access to mental health care across our great state,” Abbott said.
Learn about other funding opportunities on the HHSC grant page.
