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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 568
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WHEREAS, For the past five years, the Rapid Integrated |
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Group Healthcare Team Program (RIGHT Care) has proven to be an |
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effective and humane response to mental health emergencies in the |
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city of Dallas; and |
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WHEREAS, Initially developed by the Communities Foundation |
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of Texas with the assistance of a grant from the W. W. Caruth, Jr. |
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Fund, RIGHT Care is a partnership of the Dallas Police and |
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Fire-Rescue Departments, the Meadows Mental Health Policy |
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Institute, and the Parkland Health and Hospital System; these |
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organizations work together to shift the response for |
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behavioral-related 9-1-1 calls away from law enforcement and to |
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paramedics and health care systems; and |
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WHEREAS, RIGHT Care seeks to keep those individuals |
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experiencing mental health crises out of jails and emergency |
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rooms by responding to each crisis with a team that is specially |
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trained to de-escalate the situation, stabilize the individual |
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on the scene, and either direct them to outpatient resources or |
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transport them directly to a behavioral health facility; and |
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WHEREAS, Each RIGHT Care team includes a paramedic to |
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perform a physical examination and a field assessment of the need |
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for emergency treatment, a behavioral health clinician to |
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evaluate the individual's mental health and determine their |
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needs, and a peace officer to oversee the scene and address law |
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enforcement issues; in addition, the 9-1-1 call center retains a |
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behavioral health clinician on staff to assist callers |
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undergoing a mental health crisis, identify the most appropriate |
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response for the caller, and assist the team in the field; since |
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its launch as a pilot program in January 2018, RIGHT Care has |
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grown to encompass several multidisciplinary teams across |
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Dallas, who answered more than 11,000 behavioral crisis calls in |
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2021; and |
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WHEREAS, This innovative and dynamic program helps free |
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peace officers to make the best use of their time and training |
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responding to more traditional law enforcement calls, while |
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providing citizens who are facing mental health crises with |
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effective and compassionate care from skilled and caring |
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professionals; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, hereby commend the RIGHT Care Program for its |
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contributions to mental health care in the community and |
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extend to all those associated with the initiative sincere |
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best wishes for continued success with their important work; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
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prepared for RIGHT Care as an expression of high regard from the |
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Texas Senate. |
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Johnson, West |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on May 18, 2023. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |