North - Northwest Austin Edition | May 2024

Government

BY KATY MCAFEE

During his rst State of the County Address, Travis County Judge Andy Brown highlighted the county’s progress in tackling critical issues. Here are four takeaways: Mental health care prioritization Brown emphasized the county’s commitment to building a diversion center that provides mental health care to individuals who commit nonviolent crimes instead of sending them to jail. The county and several partners are kicking o that plan with a pilot program slated to launch this summer. Phase 1 of the program will focus on treating low-acuity patients using Integral Care’s facilities, and Phase 2, planning to launch this fall, will focus on treating patients with more severe mental health challenges. Opioid crisis response Brown’s speech addressed the county’s worsen- ing drug crisis, as a March report from Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services found that from 2020 to 2022, Travis County had twice as many opioid deaths than any other county in Texas. Brown pointed to the $860,000 the county allo- cated in August to provide Narcan kits, methadone treatment and peer support services for the next two years. The funding builds on the overdose prevention steps the county took in 2022, including declaring opioid deaths a public health crisis and distributing hundreds of Narcan kits to bars, vending machines and the pockets of law enforcement ocers. TravCo State of the County takeaways

Travis County Judge Andy Brown gave his debut State of the County address April 24.

COURTESY COLLEEN LIEDTKE

Gun safety Brown announced that the county will launch a hospital-based gun safety program this summer, as gun violence remains the No. 1 cause of nonac- cidental death in Travis County. The program will provide medical care and mentorship to victims of gun violence and prevent retaliation. San Antonio to Austin rail investment Brown concluded the evening with a commit- ment to advocate for a passenger rail connection from Austin to San Antonio, despite previous setbacks in securing funding for the project. Austin and San Antonio were both left out of an $8.2 billion package the Federal Railroad

"Travis County is stronger and more resilient, more equitable and more focused on delivering the promise and the potential of our community than ever before." ANDY BROWN, TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE Administration announced in December to fund rail projects across the country. Brown and other local leaders have been lobbying to gain federal funding and cooperation from Union Pacic, which owns the tracks that could provide rail service between Austin and San Antonio.

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