Williamson County to use federal coronavirus funds to support local mental health

Among its projects under the CARES Act, Williamson County is creating a mental health drop-off center for people coming into its justice system with mental health issues. The facility is meant to provide a temporary stay.

The county justifies this under the CARES Act for social distancing purposes, as inmates within its prisons have greater exposure to COVID-19, Heselmeyer said. Appropriate prison staff will be relocated to the center through ARPA funding since this process is related to the pandemic.

Through ARPA funding, the county is also partnering with Bluebonnet Trails, a mental health nonprofit, to add 16 beds for a youth respite center. Additionally, a 24-bed dual diagnosis inpatient treatment facility will help those experiencing mental illness and substance abuse issues.

“There is nowhere that will accept a person who has mental health and substance use disorder [in Williamson County],” Precinct 1 Commissioner Terry Cook said. “People with mental health issues often try to self-medicate to quit whatever is going on in their heads, and you try to find a place for those to go for dual treatment, and the answer is zero locations.”