Award-Winning MH Unit Diversion Success Detailed

Montgomery County Precinct 1’s Award-Winning Mental Health Unit Highlights Success, Seeks Future Funding

**MONTGOMERY, TX –** Constable Philip Cash of Montgomery County Precinct 1 offered a comprehensive look into his award-winning Mental Health Unit on Tuesday, June 18th, during a community discussion held at Bunker Family Funeral Home on FM 2854. Constable Cash detailed the unit’s innovative approach to mental health crises, its significant impact on the community, and the critical need for continued funding.

Established in 2021, the Mental Health Unit’s genesis traces back to a pivotal grant application submitted in 2020 through the Texas Office of Court Administration (OCA). This initial three-year grant specifically supported pretrial diversion and community-based mental health services, allowing Precinct 1 to staff the specialized unit with licensed professional counselors working alongside specially trained deputies. According to the OCA, such grants are designed to enhance local mental health services and reduce the burden on the justice system.

The unit’s innovative and effective approach recently earned them the prestigious “Outstanding Mental Health Unit Award” from the Texas Law Enforcement Peer Network (TLEPN) at their 2024 annual conference, held earlier this spring in Austin. TLEPN, a statewide network dedicated to supporting the well-being of law enforcement officers and promoting best practices, recognized Precinct 1’s unit for its exemplary work in a field increasingly critical to public safety.

Constable Cash underscored the unit’s core mission: to divert individuals experiencing mental health crises from the traditional criminal justice system, connecting them instead with appropriate mental health resources and significantly reducing repeat calls for service. The impact has been profound. In 2023 alone, the team responded to over 1,500 mental health-related calls across Precinct 1’s jurisdiction, successfully diverting a remarkable 99% of those individuals from jail. This proactive strategy addresses a spectrum of situations, from urgent 911 calls involving acute mental health crises to essential proactive welfare checks within the community.

Montgomery County, a rapidly growing area north of Houston, has seen an increased need for specialized mental health services as its population expands. Programs like Precinct 1’s unit are vital in alleviating pressure on emergency rooms and local jails, while also ensuring individuals receive compassionate, appropriate care tailored to their needs.

Looking ahead, the original grant funding, which has been instrumental in the unit’s successful operation, is set to conclude at the end of 2024. Constable Cash confirmed that the precinct is actively exploring alternative funding avenues to safeguard the continuation of this crucial service. “The success we’ve seen demonstrates an undeniable need for this unit in our community,” Cash stated. “We are committed to finding sustainable solutions, whether through renewed state or federal grants, local county budget allocations, or partnerships with mental health organizations, to ensure these vital services continue. Our goal is to prevent individuals from cycling through the justice system when mental health support is what they truly need.”

The Constable also emphasized the ongoing importance of specialized training for law enforcement. He referenced a recent Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) graduation ceremony, highlighting that these intensive 40-hour programs equip deputies with critical de-escalation skills and a deeper understanding of mental illnesses. Such training enables officers to respond effectively and empathetically to individuals in crisis, an approach central to the Mental Health Unit’s philosophy. Many officers within Precinct 1’s unit are CIT-certified and routinely participate in advanced training.

The community discussion at Bunker Family Funeral Home, attended by local residents and stakeholders, served as a testament to the unit’s achievements and a call to action for its future. Constable Cash reiterated Precinct 1’s dedication to innovative public safety strategies that prioritize community well-being and offer meaningful support to vulnerable populations.