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Travis County Judge Andy Brown’s Vision for Mental Health Diversion Center
Establishing a Mental Health Diversion Center has long been a priority for Travis County Judge Andy Brown. Construction for the center might finally begin in 2025. The center is designed to be a place where individuals facing a mental health crisis can go instead of being incarcerated. This initiative aims to ease the burden on the county jail, which currently houses many individuals with unmet mental health needs while they wait for beds to open in the Texas state hospital system.
Judge Brown envisions a streamlined process for law enforcement, where individuals can be taken to the center without detailed knowledge of whether they are being diverted to treatment or being arrested. Funding has been secured at the county level, and plans are in place to locate the center on the campus of the Austin State Hospital off Guadalupe Street, pending legislative approval.
According to Judge Brown, construction cannot begin until the necessary legislative measures are passed. However, he remains hopeful that progress will be made soon after the legislative session concludes next year.
Advancements in Affordable Childcare Initiative
In addition to the Mental Health Diversion Center, Judge Brown also discusses a voter-approved affordable childcare initiative set to launch in 2025. Travis County became the first in Texas and one of the first in the nation to pass this initiative in the November election.
This initiative includes a slight tax increase aimed at eliminating childcare waitlists for parents seeking to re-enter the workforce. Currently, there is a waitlist of several thousand people, with a 24-month wait time for childcare services in Travis County.
Voters recognized the importance of accessible childcare and passed the measure with nearly 60% of the vote. Year one funding is scheduled to commence in January 2025. Judge Brown believes that while this initiative will have immediate economic benefits, such as helping parents return to work, the long-term advantages include reduced medical costs and improved high school graduation rates.
Nurturing a Sustainable Childcare Ecosystem
In the second year of the affordable childcare initiative, Judge Brown hopes to see new childcare providers emerge, especially in areas of Travis County where there are childcare deserts. This expansion aims to ensure that the local economy continues to thrive and that individuals can confidently enter the workforce knowing that their children have access to high-quality childcare services.
