The Department of Behavioral Health

Covid-19 RESOURCES


Texas Health and Human Services has launched a 24/7 statewide mental health support line to help Texans experiencing anxiety, stress or emotional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This new resource offers COVID-19-related mental health support for all Texans. People can call the Statewide COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week toll-free at 833-986-1919.

Our Mission

  • Act as Commissioner’s Court advocate, expert, and clearinghouse on community mental health issues and programs.
  • Lead in planning, coordinating, advocating, and organizing community behavioral health stakeholders in activities to continuously improve the availability of services in Bexar County.

Our Vision

  • Transform Bexar County to a National model of a mentally healthy community.

 Our Purpose

  • Identify Gaps: The Department identifies overlap and system needs to best serve the mental health community.
  • Increase Capacity: The Department identifies resources that can be leveraged and identifies new funding streams to increase service capacity for persons in need.
  • Identify and recommend best use of County dollars: The Department identifies emerging best practices and monitors costs specific to the provision of treatment of persons suffering from mental illness

Goals and Objectives

Devote exclusive attention to:

  • Providing a systematic process to continuously assess the needs for mental health services in the community and prioritize the best investment of County funds to meet those needs
  • Creating a seamless system of care and safety net services for the mentally ill by improving services at multiple points of entry to care, and coordinating programs, providers and services
  • Lead mental health stakeholders in pursuing strategies supporting the improved system of care
  • Continuing the work of the Bexar County Mental Health Consortium to further the strategic plan to:
    • Raise awareness in the community
    • Address community needs
    • Coordinate with public policy leaders
    • Impact legislation
    • Facilitate training
    • Recruit and retain Mental Health professionals
    • Ensure a coordinated system of care in the community
  • Establishing a partnership with the Center for Health Care Services (CHCS) to ensure that gaps, needs, and services identified by the community are formalized and incorporated in CHCS’s service delivery plan
  • Being Commissioner’s Court expert/advocate on mental health issues and programs in the County; negotiate contracts for mental health services while tracking performance measures, program compliance, and effectiveness

Current Actions

  • Reduce number of persons with mental illness from inappropriate incarceration
  • Convene Bexar County Mental Health Consortium and Legislative Symposium
  • Promote methods that encourage the reduction of the stigma of mental illness
  • Encourage, expand, and support effective mental health treatment services for the citizens of Bexar County

Related Documents

  1. 2018 Sequential Intercept with Bexar Initiatives v5 (PDF)
  2. BCSC Coalition Book (PDF)
  3. Homeless Healthcare Analysis (March 2018) (PDF)
  4. Mental Health Systems Cost Assessment (September 2016) (PDF)

Community Round Table Meeting AGendas

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