R-1945-5-01RESOLUTION NO. 1945-5-OI(R)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALLEN, COLLIN
COUNTY, TEXAS, REQUESTING PARTICIPATION IN THE TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL RETARDATION
NORTHSTAR PILOT PROGRAM BE TERMINATED; REQUESTING LOCAL
CONTROL OVER PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY
MHMR CENTER TRUSTEES BE REINSTATED; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, along with the Texas
Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, have established a pilot program called NorthSTAR that is
creating serious concern fm our community; and,
WHEREAS, the number of children and adolescents with serious mental illnesses being treated in Collin
County is almost half of what it was before NorthSTAR and the number of people getting committed
involumanly to the state hospital and those being placed in community hospitals has risen greatly (we
understand that state hospital use has doubled since NorthSTAR began); and,
WHEREAS, substance abusers are getting less treatment with a 47% reduction in detox stays and 83%
reduction in residential treatment and crime goes up when substance abusers are not getting necessary help;
' and,
WHEREAS, this new program restricts people over 200% of poverty from getting any services except
emergency care which means approximately 20 people per month are turned down for care they need; and,
WHEREAS, our local community MHMR center run by a volunteer board of trustees has had its mental
health funding and staff cut in half and there is no local authority responsible for solving these problems;
and,
WHEREAS, private professionals are now refusing to take any of these clients because of the low pay by
the state's contract agent and other local agencies like the homeless shelter, jails and other
information/referral agencies are reporting a significant increase in the number of residents with serious
mental illness coming to them for help; and,
WHEREAS, a recent study by TDMHMR shows that clients in the NorthSTAR area rate the quality of care
lower than every other area in Texas except one.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALLEN,
COLLIN COUNTY, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1: The above-described pilot program be terminated at the end of its existing contract and
local control over public mental health services be reinstated to the community MHMR center trustees.
SECTION 2: The City Secretary shall forward certified copies of this Resolution to elected officials
' representing citizens of Collin County, Texas.
SECTION 3: This resolution shall become effective from and after its passage.
DULY PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALLEN, COLUN
' COUNTY, TEXAS, ON THIS THE 17M DAY OF MAY, 2001.
APPROVED:
2,4LZLy
Stephe erreB, MAYOR
F
ATTEST:
Judy Mo n, CMC/AAE, CFFY SECRETARY
Resolution No. 1945-5-01(R), Page 2