Res 035-2001 4/17/2001RESOLUTION NO. — I
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WICHITA
FALLS IN SUPPORT OF INCREASED STATE FUNDING FOR
COMMUNITY MHMR SERVICES; FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT
THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS RESOLUTION WAS PASSED WAS
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
WHEREAS, all Texans benefit when their families, friends and neighbors can
obtain the behavioral health services they need to maintain good health and be
productive members of their community; and
WHEREAS, community mental health and mental retardation services have
proven to be effective and efficient in meeting individual and community needs; and
WHEREAS, Texas ranks 43'd in per capita funding for community mental health
and mental retardation services and has over 23,000 persons with serious mental
disabilities waiting for needed support services statewide; and
WHEREAS, appropriations of new state funds would benefit Texans with mental
disabilities by:
(1) Repairing and strengthening the mental health safety net by
funding new medications and intensive community -based mental
health services that can prevent psychiatric crisis, incarceration,
and homelessness;
(2) Ending the waiting lists for essential community services which
enable Texans with extraordinary needs to avoid more costly
institutional placement; and
(3) Providing Texans with mental disabilities the same level of
community services available to people in most other states by
increasing Texas' funding to equal the national average by 2005.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Wichita Falls hereby supports the
Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation's funding request for $265
million in increases to community MHMR services for 2002 and 2003.
SECTION 2. It is hereby officially found and determined that the meeting at
which this resolution was passed was open to the public as required by law.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 17th day of April 2001.
ATTEST:
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City Clerk
MAYOR