Judge Becerra believes mental health should be a primary focus, so he established the Mental Health Task Force which created the roadmap to bring a Center for Mental Wellness, Education, and Research to Hays County with the goal of destigmatizing and addressing mental health issues. He was able to get funding approved and Hays County engaged the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and its architectural partner, HOK, to assess the community’s mental health system and provide recommendations for evolving and developing resources necessary to meet the current and future needs of its residents. The Needs Assessment was completed in November 2022 and evaluated mental health care services such as Preventative Care, Integrated Mental Health Care, Inpatient Services for Serious Mental Illness, Substance Abuse, Mental Health Education, and more to determine what services and the size of the wellness center needed in our county. This would support our healthcare system, our criminal justice system, economic development, and ultimately all residents in Hays County. The full Needs Assessment can be found here.

Resources

Health Department Public Health Assessment

Central State Research