Kyle City Council approves negotiations for mental health program

KYLE — At its May 22 meeting, Kyle City Council approved a resolution authorizing the award of the “Increase Access to Mental Health Services for Residents Under 18” solicitation to Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Center (HCMHDD).

On Jan. 8, 2024, the city released the solicitation and received six responses, all of which staff briefed council on. Afterwards, council gave direction to proceed with an evaluation of the proposals, consisting of a panel of city staff, partners from the Hays County Health Department and Hays CISD in March. The panel then recommended awarding the solicitation to HCMHDD.

Part of the proposal included a Youth Wellness Center with the goal to “provide comprehensive mental health and outpatient substance use treatment for individuals under the age of 18,” said HCMHDD Assistant Director of Administrative Services Julie Beggs.

Proposed services include counseling, psychiatrist evaluations and medication management, individual and group skills training, routine case management, medication training and support, crisis assessment and intervention, as well as partner support. There would also be counseling and drug education, adolescent support, monitoring progress and making referrals and coordination with drug courts, schools and transportation specifically for substance use treatment.

One licensed therapist, three qualified mental health professionals and one administrative support position would be needed in the center.

According to agenda documents, the program budget is $465,639, which exceeds available funding, but there would be a collaborative negotiation with partners from the health department, school district and the mental health facility to identify additional sources.

Council member Michael Tobias asked for clarification on the requested budget, to which Beggs responded that HCMHDD requested the $465,639 to fully fund the program, but the city has only budgeted $100,000 for this fiscal year. This is why there are negotiations needed with the other parties to gain additional funding or to determine which services may not be launched this year.

“If [this service] is something that we’re going to help with … maybe we can look at not just doing one year, but maybe doing three years or something like that and have it reoccurring in our budget and continue to have the county and the district combine together,” said Tobias.

Council member Bear Heiser, who has sponsored the item previously, noted that he has identified four grants that the city can apply for: St. David’s Hospital, Ascension Seton Hays Hospital, the state health department and another within the state.

“In order to move forward with trying to identify that funding, we have to move forward with trying to negotiate what the program would look like through the contract,” said Heiser.

One concern was where the program would be held, expressed council member Lauralee Harris. According to Beggs, there have been discussions, but there has not been one location pinpointed.

“The school district has indicated they may have a facility that we could use for this program. So, part of the discussion with the provider would be to discuss: What do they need; does this facility work; does it have all of the amenities that they need to make it work. But potentially the school district, instead of a cash contribution, they may allow this program to use one of its facilities,” said city manager Bryan Langley.

Harris questioned whether HCMHDD would be contributing to the cost of the project, since, as the state designated mental health provider, they receive “a lot of money from the state.”

“I would think that they should participate in the cost of the services,” she said.

Anthony Winn, director of clinical operations for HCMHDD, did state that part of the service — the psychiatric medication management services —  would not be funded through the contract.

Council member Robert Rizo began his discussion by emphasizing the importance of mental health, but did pose the question of whether the city is attempting to start its own health department. He cited the county’s new behavioral health program, which was recently started, and listed several of its services, as well as the Healthy Hays Coalition.

“My problem with this is that we don’t have a staff for this. We don’t have professionals that even address this on staff here with the city. Why are we not partnering with the county who has a mental health professional,” asked Rizo. “I don’t want a program that we’re going to implement that's going to fail because mental health is important to me. I think we need to really do our due diligence.”

Rizo also stated that the school district has no space, to which Heiser explained that he spoke with the district that day, May 22, and they identified a school within Kyle that was available to use.

“[Also], if the county was ready to start serving the residents of the city of Kyle, why haven’t they started,” said Heiser. “As you’ve stated, I am on [the Healthy Hays Coalition] board and I am still pushing forward for something that I believe to be very important.”

“We’re going to go for a contract negotiation for the funds that we have, $100,000, and we would bring something back to you [about] what we could do and what facility, potentially what the school district has offered,” Langley told council. “It could be that council would want to provide more funding … It’s a pilot program; it’s a new program, I think for all of us. But this is essentially picking the company, the nonprofit, that we want to work with and to try to come back to you with a plan. This does not obligate you in any way to accept that plan.”

Council voted 5-1, with Rizo dissenting and council member Michael Zuniga absent, to approve the item. Staff will bring back the contract to council for approval after an agreement has been approved by the other parties.