DESIGNED BY CHELSEA PETERS COMPILED BY BROOKLYNN COOPER
GETTING HELP Below are resources for Collin County residents in crisis.
vnatexas.org
LifePath Systems’ Crisis Hotline is available 24/7 for Collin County residents. Trained health professionals are prepared to assist, regardless of insurance or income. 877-422-5939
Collin County’s Substance Abuse Program o ers free substance abuse evaluations and referrals for adolescents and low-cost evaluations and referrals for adults. 972-548-5570
Helping North Texans Age With Dignity Since 1934 VNA Hospice & Palliative Care Focuses on quality of life for the patient and family at a time when comfort, compassion and clinical expertise matter most. To schedule your free in-home informational visit, please call Sarah at (214) 535-2615 or email gethelp@vnatexas.org
LifePath Systems Living Room: People who have mental illnesses can nd job services; grocery and housing assistance; and social activities.
SOURCES: COLLIN COUNTY, LIFEPATH SYSTEMS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
admission into a treatment facility; or arrest the person, when justi ed. “All peace o cers have a duty to divert a person from the county jail to an appropriate treatment center when it’s safe,” Skinner said in an email. Texas peace o cers, which include police o cers, deputy sheri s and constables, receive training on crisis intervention, a methodology intended to de-escalate and assist people expe- riencing a mental health crisis. Skinner said crisis intervention training consists of learning about commonly encountered mental health conditions, such as schizo- phrenia, personality disorders, mood disorders and developmental disor- ders. It also includes e ective com- munication skills for a person who may be in crisis. Collin County has deputy sheri s with additional specialty training who respond to calls involving a person in a mental health crisis on a 24/7 basis, Skinner said. In the event that a person is arrested, o cers and various medical professionals screen people during the booking process, Skinner said. Sta screen each person for signs of mental illness or disability; risk of sui- cide; and any special medical needs. In some cases, a person is sent to an emergency room for more specialized assessment or care. The faster the county is able to move a person with mental illness through the criminal justice system, the better, Mahan said. This is one of the reasons why screening is important. “The longer somebody’s in jail, the more unstable their community life becomes,” Mahan said. “For example, people lose their apartments. So when they do get released after 200 or 300 days, they’re now homeless, whereas before they weren’t homeless.” LifePath has had a jail diversion program for several years that assists people who have previously been in
jail so they do not return. This year, the organization opened its Living Room as a proactive approach. The Living Room is one of the places law enforcement can bring people who need mental health services, Mahan said. People can also come to the resource center, located o of Redbud Boulevard in east McKinney, on their own terms. Sta at the Living Room help people with job and housing placement, food access and more. “The thing we obviously don’t want is that people go to jail just to get ser- vices,” Mahan said. A reimagined campus Until the new in rmary is built, Bilyeu said the county will manage like it has for the past 25 years. Bilyeu added that once the expan- sion is complete, it likely will not be sta ed with the expectation of all 450 beds being lled. “When the county has its 3 million people, that in rmary is already right- sized for that, so we would never expect it to ll up anytime in the near [future],” Bilyeu said. “We’ll open it in stages, more than likely.” In addition to the in rmary, the county can look forward to two other projects from the State and Local Fis- cal Recovery Funds. A $54.8 million public health building and parking garage is planned for the southwest portion of the county campus, directly east of the county constable building. The third project is a $12 million med- ical examiner building, which will be next to the public health building. Both are expected to be completed by 2026. “The bene t for the court making a good, quick, decisive answer [on use of the funds] is it’s helped us keep moving this stu along,” Bilyeu said.
of people with a substance use disorder did not receive treatment in the past year. 90% RECOVERY STARTS HERE . Call today to learn more about OSAR (Outreach, Screening, Assessment and Referral)
www.lifepathsystems.org 972.422.5939
Better Hearing Keeps You Connected
• Hearing evaluations for all ages • Hearing aid fittings, maintenance & repairs • Invisible fittings • Wireless and connectivity solutions • Evaluation period on all hearing aids • Custom ear / swim protection • Locally owned and operated
“Hearing Services of McKinney is my #1 place to go for
my hearing loss needs. Caring and dedicated professionals with many years of experience working daily to meet your needs.” - Retired Collin County Sheriff Terry G. Box
Staffed by 2 Licensed Doctors of Audiology
Cassandra Wilson-Owner Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA
Taylor Gilbow Au.D., CCC-A
Doctor of Audiology
Doctor of Audiology
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
972.838.1300 | www.hearinmckinney.com | 4201 Medical Center Drive, Suite 270
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MCKINNEY EDITION • JUNE 2022
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