During a special meeting held in February, the Hockley County Commissioners’ Court approved a resolution with StarCare that allows the group to apply for a community mental health grant.
Presented by Beth Lawson, CEO of StarCare Specialty Health System, the resolution allows StarCare to apply for a Community Mental Health Grant (CMHG) through Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for the benefit of Hockley County.
Pat Phelan, District Judge for the 286th Judicial District for Hockley and Cochran Counties, asked that this item be considered by the commissioners’ court. The grant application will be for $500,000 for a two-year period beginning September 1 and end August 31, 2026. If awarded, this grant would require a 25% match by Hockley County. Applicants receiving grant agreements must contribute non-state and nonfederal funding as cost-sharing or in-kind match.
The CMHG is a behavioral health matching grant project authorized by the Texas Legislature, which is administered by the HHSC Behavioral Services Department. The CMHG program’s design and operational processes are directed by state statute as well as agency policies. The CMHG program must fulfill goals and strategies identified by the Texas Statewide Behavioral Health Strategic Plan, to mitigate specific gaps in Texas’ behavioral health system at the community level.
If awarded, the grant would increase access to appropriate behavioral health services for underserved populations; enhance continuity of care and systematic coordination for justice-involved individuals; and support continued implementation of evidence-based practices. HHSC may give special consideration to the Applicant that serves rural areas; provides services for children and adults that are justice-involved; and includes strategies to mitigate the forensic waitlist.
StarCare Specialty Health System is the designated local mental health authority for Hockley County said Judge Baldridge.
“When Judge Phelan and StarCare approached me with this, it was no doubt something I believed the commissioners would want to consider,” said Baldridge. “StarCare Specialty Health Systems is applying for funding of this grant to establish a jail inreach program to provide case management and psychiatric care for people with mental health needs in the Hockley County Jail.”
The program will also focus on reintegration services for individuals transitioning out of incarceration to ensure continuity of care and continuation and ongoing medication management. If the grant is awarded, StarCare Staff will complete screenings in the Hockley County Jail to identify individuals with mental health needs.
StarCare will increase psychiatric capacity to be able to provide needed psychiatric services either in person or via telepsychiatry to provide evaluation and medication management.
Upon release, the Reintegration Program will work with those individuals to develop an aftercare plan to ensure continuity of care. StarCare will continue to expand its partnership with Covenant Hospital Levelland to provide psychiatric services in Hockley County.
This allows people residing in Hockley and surrounding counties to receive needed mental health care in their community without having to travel. In addition to expanded psychiatric care and case management, care coordination will be provided to assist with transition from incarceration.
If the grant is awarded, Baldridge believes the county will have most of the 25% covered as in-kind match for this grant.
“We are excited to continue to partner with StarCare Specialty Health Systems to provide expanded services here locally,” said Judge Baldridge. “I believe the more services that we can provide locally will first and foremost be a benefit to those receiving the services, but to the taxpayers as a whole in reducing certain expenses that are currently being incurred and paid by Hockley County.”
During a regular meeting held March 4, the court approved a written amendment to Interlocal Agreement between Hockley County and Lamb County.
Baldridge explained that the original agreement was approved back in November of 2023 that dealt with holding the trial of Jeremy Niel Atchison. Atchison has been awaiting trial as he is facing charges of Evading Arrest, Detention with Motor Vehicle, Watercraft with Previous Conviction or SBI and Capital Murder by Terroristic Threat, other Felony. Atchison has spent more than 1,600 days in jail as he was arrested August 31, 2019. The trial is set for March 25.
The court is also making headway in regard to the parking lot project the county began in the Summer of 2023. Baldridge added that final details have finally been settled upon and are projecting a finish date by June 1.