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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. Jim McDermott of Tarrant County received the |
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2009 Lifetime Achievement Award for Staff Leadership from the |
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National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare; and |
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WHEREAS, The chief executive officer of Mental Health Mental |
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Retardation of Tarrant County, Dr. McDermott was recognized for his |
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unwavering commitment to behavioral health care and for his notable |
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contributions to the industry over the course of more than two |
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decades; and |
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WHEREAS, With his vision of developing a comprehensive, |
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community-focused system of care for individuals with mental health |
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issues or mental retardation, Dr. McDermott has overseen numerous |
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expansions and improvements at MHMRTC; he worked diligently to |
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increase the agency's local, state, and federal resources from $24 |
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million to $90 million, and he has significantly enhanced its |
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mental health crisis response system; MHMRTC now serves more than |
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20,000 patients annually, and it offers an array of programs, |
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including outpatient mental health, detox, and childhood |
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intervention; moreover, under Dr. McDermott's skilled leadership, |
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MHMRTC has earned a reputation as an innovative and high-quality |
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health care institution, and thus it is often used as a pilot site |
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for implementing new statewide initiatives; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. McDermott was chosen by the board chair of the |
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Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to serve |
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on the Mental Health Task Force, which was created to reshape the |
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state's community-based system of delivery; in 2007, he was |
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selected as chair of the Executive Directors Consortium of the |
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Texas Council of Community MHMR clinics, and he was asked to |
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participate in a Blue Ribbon Committee to examine workforce issues |
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related to assuring the availability of quality behavioral health |
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care in Tarrant County; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to building a brighter future for Texans |
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with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities, Dr. |
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McDermott has garnered the lasting respect and appreciation of his |
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colleagues, patients, and fellow residents, and he may indeed |
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reflect with great pride on the positive impact he has had on his |
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community; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Jim McDermott on his receipt of |
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the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award for Staff Leadership from the |
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National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare and extend to |
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him sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. McDermott as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |