Res 044-2005 3/15/2005RESOLUTION NO. LA
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WICHITA
FALLS, TEXAS, IN SUPPORT OF MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL
RETARDATION LOCAL MANAGEMENT AND FUNDING, FINDING AND
DETERMINING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS RESOLUTION
WAS PASSED WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
WHEREAS, the Helen Farabee Regional MHMR Center has served a vital role in
this community for 35 years, and
WHEREAS, the Center serves over 5,000 individuals annually; and
WHEREAS, the Helen Farabee Regional MHMR Center has acted as a catalyst
to leverage state, federal and local funds to provide an integrated local service delivery
system, and
WHEREAS, It is instrumental in creating and maintaining strong partnerships on
behalf of people with mental illness or mental retardation and their loved ones, and
WHEREAS, the Center has been a responsible steward of public funds and is a
valued asset of the nineteen counties it serves.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, THAT
SECTION 1 . The City Council does hereby support the following'.
A. Legislative changes that would amend the law (put in place in House Bill
2292, 78' session and proposed by House Bill 4]0) so as to
1. Remove any limits on the ability of a community MHMR center to serve
as both a provider of mental retardation or mental health services and
as a manager of those associated state funds, and
2. Eliminate the requirement that an MHMR center privatize its mental
retardation group homes and waiver programs, and
3. Eliminate the requirement for a Regional Board that would have to be
funded out of MHMR funds, thereby reducing the available funds for
treatment and adding another level of administration; and
B. Efforts to ensure that local mental health and mental retardation services
and the associated state funding for these services are managed as
efficiently as possible through a local governmental entity selected by county
officials so as to
1. Increase local control of the MHMR system; and
2. Maintain services in rural areas where there are no providers other
than the present MHMR centers, and
3. Fully fund services directed by rules, including but not limited to
supports for jail diversion efforts, acute crisis stabilization and day
habilitative services for mentally ill and disabled individuals', and
C. If the aim of the state is to take full control of the MHMR system, then the
center employees should revert to being state employees.
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 day of March 15, 2005.
MAYOR PRO TEM
ATTEST.
City Clerk