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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For the past five years, the Rapid Integrated Group |
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Healthcare Team Program (RIGHT Care) has proven to be an effective |
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and humane response to mental health emergencies in the city of |
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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 rooms |
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by responding to each crisis with a team that is specially trained |
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to de-escalate the situation, stabilize the individual on the |
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scene, and either direct them to outpatient resources or transport |
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them directly to a behavioral health facility; and |
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WHEREAS, Each RIGHT Care team includes a paramedic to perform |
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a physical examination and a field assessment of the need for |
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emergency treatment, a behavioral health clinician to evaluate the |
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individual's mental health and determine their needs, and a peace |
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officer to oversee the scene and address law enforcement issues; in |
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addition, the 9-1-1 call center retains a behavioral health |
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clinician on staff to assist callers undergoing a mental health |
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crisis, identify the most appropriate response for the caller, and |
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assist the team in the field; since its launch as a pilot program in |
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January 2018, RIGHT Care has grown to encompass several |
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multidisciplinary teams across Dallas, who answered more than |
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11,000 behavioral crisis calls in 2021; and |
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WHEREAS, This innovative and dynamic program helps free peace |
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officers to make the best use of their time and training responding |
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to more traditional law enforcement calls, while providing citizens |
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who are facing mental health crises with effective and |
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compassionate care from skilled and caring professionals; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby commend the RIGHT Care Program for its contributions to |
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mental health care in the community and extend to all those |
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associated with the initiative sincere best wishes for continued |
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success with their important work; 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 by the Texas |
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Senate. |