WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS RECEIVE UPDATE ON TELEHEALTH COUNSELING PROGRAMS
Students in Brenham and Burton ISDs may soon have additional opportunities to receive counseling services.
At Tuesday’s meeting of the Washington County Commissioners Court, Telebehavioral Care Program Director Dr. Carly McCord provided an update to commissioners on programs provided locally by the Texas A&M University Health Science Center.
New programs are being offered to students in area counties, and one may soon come to Washington County: the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT).
Dr. McCord said there can be long wait times and high costs for students to see counselors and psychiatrists, and TCHATT was designed to be a bridge to allow students to receive mental health services more quickly.
Dr. McCord said she has met with Brenham and Burton ISDs to discuss the programs and is waiting to receive memorandums of understanding (MOU) to start services.
Dr. McCord also discussed the Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN), which allows primary care physicians to have consultation access to on-call psychiatrists. Through the program, students in need of services could go through their primary care physician to consult a psychiatrist. Dr. McCord did not say if and when this program would be offered to local schools.
During her update, Dr. McCord also said the community access point operated in partnership with Faith Mission is currently being funded through the Community Mental Health Grant program, which began after the 85th Legislature and was expanded in the 86th. The community access point now has state funding for the next two years, and will be covered through 2025 if funding is not cut.
Commissioners also received an update on a pilot program providing mental health services to Washington County Jail inmates. The program began in late 2019, offering group and individual counseling services to inmates to help them manage their emotions. Dr. Isaac Saldivar, a psychologist working at the jail, believes the program has made a positive impact on the dozens who have participated.
Commissioners said they will consider scheduling a workshop in the future to further review the data from the pilot program at the jail and the other programs offered.