83R17240 BK-F

By: Walle H.R. No. 1248

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The Houston Police Department formed a Mental Health Unit in 2007 to develop, implement, and manage the department's multifaceted specialized response strategies for individuals in serious mental health crises; and

WHEREAS, The Mental Health Unit is now a state and national model, having trained the first group of Crisis Intervention Team officers in the San Antonio and Austin Police Departments, as well as numerous law enforcement officers and mental health professionals across the state and nation; and

WHEREAS, In 2010, Houston became one of six police departments nationally to be designated as a Learning Site by the United States Council of State Governments; as such, the department provides crisis intervention training and educational materials to law enforcement officers and mental health personnel from across the country and hosts site visits for them to learn about its programs; and

WHEREAS, The Mental Health Unit has collaborated with criminal justice, mental health, and advocacy organizations in Houston and throughout Harris County to develop a number of state-of-the-art programs; among them are the Crisis Intervention Response Team, which pairs a Houston Mental Health Peace Officer with a licensed professional counselor from the Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County to provide a highly specialized response to individuals in the most serious mental health crises, and the Chronic Consumer Stabilization Initiative, a proactive program to keep chronic consumers out of crisis with intensive case management; this initiative, which has reduced the number of calls-for-service to individuals on its caseload by as much as 70 percent, was recognized with the prestigious 2010 International Association of Chiefs of Police Community Policing Award and was a finalist for the Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing; and

WHEREAS, In 2011, the Mental Health Unit implemented a Homeless Outreach Team with the mission of improving the lives of homeless Houstonians and reducing their numbers by helping them overcome the barriers that keep them homeless; during its first two years, the Homeless Outreach Team found housing for more than 200 homeless individuals and referred over 1,000 individuals to local service providers, thereby connecting them with physical and mental health care; and

WHEREAS, In addition to these endeavors, the City of Houston collaborated with community organizations to open the Houston Center for Sobriety, a facility closely aligned with the Houston Police Department's Mental Health Unit, and the unit's manager, Lieutenant Mike Lee, was instrumental in its design, development, and implementation; the center serves as an alternative to jail for people who are publicly intoxicated, as they can remain in the facility until sober; they are subsequently counseled for alcohol and substance abuse problems and provided with referral information for follow-up counseling and treatment; and

WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Chief of Police Charles A. McClelland, Jr., Executive Assistant Chief Timothy N. Oettmeier, and Mental Health Unit Manager Lieutenant Michael A. Lee, the Houston Police Department's Mental Health Unit continues to exemplify excellence and innovation through collaboration and commitment; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby commend the Houston Police Department's Mental Health Unit for its service to the community, mental health professionals, and the criminal justice system and extend to all those associated with the unit sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the unit as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.