Veterans court inks deal for substance abuse treatment
The Hays County Veterans Treatment Court will soon be able to provide substance abuse treatment to those who need it.
At its meeting Tuesday last week, the Hays County Commissioners Court authorized an agreement between the court and Austin Recovery Inc.to provide a residential substance abuse treatment facility.
“This is a program that we can provide to our veterans through the veterans court,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe said.
Austin Recovery-Hicks Family Ranch is located in Buda and offers shortterm intensive inpatient treatment for substance abuse. The Texas Veterans Commission approved the agreement, and grant funds will be used for all the Hays County Veterans Treatment Court expenses, according to the commissioners’ agenda.
According to the agreement letter, the veterans court will be responsible for identifying and referring veterans for substance abuse treatment as it deems necessary, completing the referral process and remitting payment for services within 30 days of receipt of an invoice. Austin Recovery Inc. will be responsible for assessing referred clients and making appropriate recommendations for treatment, providing skilled counselors and a collaborative treatment plan and review, providing progress reports as needed, providing case management services and collaboration for services after discharge, adhering to a fee schedule and providing a monthly invoice for services.
In other business, the commissioners approved the acceptance of $4,285 in additional grant funding for the Juvenile Probation Department from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. The funds are to go toward pre- and post-adjudication services. No county matching funds are required.
The commissioners also approved the submission of a grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice for funding under the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP). The county receives funding from SCAAP to offset jail expenses related to the incarceration of undocumented criminal aliens. The amount of money awarded will depend on inmate data submitted with the application.
Additionally, the commissioners approved an application for participation in the Texas 1033 Surplus Property Program from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office.
An item that would have provided space for the Rainbow Room for Hays County Child Protective Board at county property located at 401 C Broadway St. was pulled from the agenda.