Discussion and possible action to accept a grant award from the Office of the Governor's Criminal Justice Division in the amount of $17,776.92 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 on 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 Laredo/Webb County community remains a medically and mentally underserved area, forcing young people and adults with mental health issues to travel to facilities outside the area for necessary services.

Solution: Grant application to fund overtime and relevant fringe benefits for Mental Health Unit members to transport patients to out-of-town facilities, ensuring they receive the necessary care.

Result: Grant funding will enable members of the Mental Health Unit to carry out complex and time-consuming tasks, such as executing court orders, managing mental health commitments, and transporting patients to out-of-town facilities, ultimately benefiting mentally ill patients, their families, and the wider community.

Locally, there are very few inpatient treatment beds for mental health patients, with only 16 available for a Laredo/Webb County population exceeding a quarter of a million.

The court approved the submission of the grant application on January 8, 2024.