Bluebonnet Trails is a mental health facility that provides services to adults and children with serious mental illness, emotional disorders, chemical dependency and more. It partners with the county to provide beds for individuals who are the most mentally vulnerable. This is part of the county’s effort to reduce its jail population by providing mental health services to those in need rather than housing them in a jail cell.
“Bluebonnet Trails has been a wonderful partner, and they do an exceptional job,” Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell told Community Impact Newspaper. “These extra beds are not a result of the pandemic; these extra beds a result of growth. Our community just continues to grow.”
The county currently provides funding for 12 beds through a state funding partnership, but the two additional beds will be funded solely by the county, officials said. The total cost is $456,264 and will be included in the fiscal year 2020-21 budget.
The two additional beds will provide a place for one adult and one juvenile. The initial request for the expansion was to add one bed; however, Gravell said upon reviewing the data it looked like the need was greater and the court did not want to be behind in providing adequate services.
“The two additional beds is important to take care of our residents,” Gravell said.
FY 2020-21 begins Oct. 1.
