Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the First Responder Mental Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners authorize county to apply for first-responder mental-health grant
Summary
The court approved submitting a state grant application to fund 'Healing the Shield,' a program to provide regional trauma-response and resilience services for first responders, after a presentation by a sheriff's lieutenant and chaplain.
The Lubbock County Commissioners Court voted Feb. 9 to approve a resolution authorizing submission of a grant application for "Healing the Shield," a first-responder mental wellness program intended to provide trauma-response support and regional training.
Chris Daniel, lieutenant with the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office and the agency chaplain, told the court the grant would fund nonprofit partners to build an organization to address traumatic incidents, family issues and ongoing mental-health needs for staff and volunteers across roughly 15 counties. "On an average 20-year career, a typical law-enforcement officer deals with 800 traumatic events," Daniel said, arguing the grant would reduce stigma and expand resources.
The resolution directs the county judge to sign and submit necessary documents for fiscal year 2027 funding. Commissioners expressed support for the program and the motion to approve the application carried unanimously.
Daniel said the program would also provide regional training and inclusion of volunteer firefighters and other emergency personnel; he asked the court to seek full state funding and thanked commissioners for their support.
The court recorded a motion and vote to authorize the application; the transcript does not include a detailed budget breakdown or named nonprofit partners to be contracted if funding is received.
