San Marcos staff, Evoke Wellness describe jail-diversion services; city clarifies ARPA contract balance

At a March 4 San Marcos City Council work session, city staff and representatives of Evoke Wellness (doing business as Sunrise Rehab and Recovery) outlined the treatment pathway and eligibility for people referred by the San Marcos Police Department as part of a jail-diversion effort, and clarified contract funding sourced from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money.

The presentation was part of a follow-up requested by council after questions raised at a December meeting. Elizabeth Trevino and Chief Stan Standridge told the council the contract had been increased to $150,000 but that administrative paperwork had not reflected the change; Standridge said the actual remaining balance is about $70,000, not the $19,000 that an agenda request form had stated.

The clarification matters because the Evoke Wellness contract is funded through ARPA and is being used to connect San Marcos residents referred by SMPD and the city27s mental-health court to treatment rather than incarceration. "We have about $70,000 remaining, which is a good way to segue into what is the purpose of our collaboration with Evoke Wellness in furtherance of jail diversion," Chief Stan Standridge said.

Evoke Wellness executive director Megan Kowalski described the…