Denton County approves MOU with MHMR to support assisted outpatient treatment under SAMHSA grant

Denton County Commissioners Court on April 8 approved a memorandum of understanding between Denton County and Denton County MHMR to establish a working relationship to support assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) for adults with serious mental illness. The MOU is tied to a federal SAMHSA grant the local authority received late last fall.

The MOU authorizes information-sharing and participation by the countys community court diversion coordinator, Alicia Delmonte, to identify eligible defendants and help channel them into court-supervised AOT. Melissa Shee, program manager for Denton County MHMR, told the court the grant funds a dedicated treatment team of rehabilitation specialists, counselors and a nurse to provide intensive community-based services for AOT participants.

Court presenters said the SAMHSA award is a four-year grant that funds services intended for approximately 75 patients per year. A speaker for MHMR told the court that Denton County has seen nearly a decade-long trend of rising involuntary mental-health court filings, averaging about a 7% annual increase; last year filings rose roughly 13%. The presenters said an 18-month local pilot of 19 patients in court-supervised outpatient care was associated with about a 60%–65% reduction in repeat commitments for that small group.

The memorandum clarifies that the MOU itself is a working agreement and not an acceptance of additional county grant funds; MHMR staff confirmed the SAMHSA grant had already been awarded to the local mental-health authority. Commissioners moved and seconded the MOU and the court approved it by unanimous voice vote.

Supporters said the program aims to reduce cycles of inpatient hospitalization and jail admissions by keeping people engaged in outpatient care. Melissa Shee said her team will provide intensive case management and clinical supports; she described referrals coming through the community court diversion coordinator to reach people who cycle through misdemeanor offenses.

County officials and MHMR staff answered commissioners questions about the grant term and program scope. MHMR staff confirmed the federal grant runs four years and emphasized the MOU is to formalize the working relationship rather than to request new county appropriations.

The courts approval authorizes county staff to carry out the MOU-level cooperation with Denton County MHMR and to allow the community court diversion coordinator to participate in AOT case coordination.