Brown County commissioners back letter of support for mental-health court liaison grant

County staff asked commissioners to provide letters of support for an application to the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health to fund a court mental-health liaison position.

A staff presenter said the program would create a court liaison role to connect courts, the sheriff's office and community partners such as the local mental health authority; Jonathan Harvey of the Center for Life Resources was identified in the discussion as a point of contact on the project. Staff said the initial award would be $165,000 for the first two years and that, if the commission funds continuation, a stepped-down funding model would provide lower percentages in subsequent years; staff also said the county could discontinue the program after the initial funded period if it chose not to continue.

The presenter described the grant as competitive—only five counties would be funded in the second cohort—and requested that commissioners supply letters of support to complete the application packet. Commissioners moved and seconded a motion to provide letters of support and indicated approval by raising hands; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally or name the mover or seconder.

Staff said the application materials include required compliance and outcome reporting and that they have devised a submission plan for the May deadline. Staff also noted that probation and other partners would be involved if the grant is awarded; Amber Boswell and Jonathan Harvey were cited as current points of contact in the effort.

Next steps are for staff to collect commissioners’ letters of support and finalize the application for submission to the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health.