SAN MARCOS CITY COUNCIL
The San Marcos City Council voted unanimously to approve an increase in funding with use of American Rescue Plan Act funds from $99,000 to $150,000 for Sunrise Rehab & Recovery, dba Evoke Wellness San Marcos, at the regularly scheduled meeting. The organization provides a substance use treatment program for qualified adults identified through the San Marcos Police Department Mental Health Diversion program.
San Marcos City Council Member Amanda Rodriguez said she was hoping that a representative with Evoke Wellness would be available to answer questions about the scope of services, adding that she felt the agenda packet was lacking that information.
San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge gave background information, saying that Evoke Wellness was initially selected by Randy Focken, with the Hays County Judicial Services Office. The company is used in the Hays County Mental Health Court for treatment services in order to divert mentally ill individuals from the carceral system. In this specific instance, this would be a contract for use for services for those that encounter the San Marcos Police Department and who have Substance Use Disorder and possibly co-occurring mental health disorders.
“The initial execution [of the contract], because we had a critical client who needed services right then who is indigent, the initial execution with Evoke Wellness was to the tune of $99,000,” Standridge said. “That doesn’t necessitate council approval. We knew eventually we would be here [before council] because the total amount of money allocated was $150,000. $100,000 is the threshold from which the council has to approve.”
San Marcos Police Department Corporal Joseph Osborne said when the Mental Health Unit encounters a client in need of substance abuse services, the next steps will depend on whether or not the client has insurance. If they do, the department will find a service provider that takes their insurance. If not, there are five scholarships that can be used to pay for services. Osborne said that around 50% of the people in need of services that are encountered by the SMPD MHU do not have insurance.
“We handle it a couple of different ways. Sometimes, if the person is in need of medical assistance, then we’ll take them to the local hospital, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa, and then they’ll receive the treatment they need. Then later, once they’ve received that medical treatment, they’ll receive a mental health evaluation from a licensed mental health professional,” Osborne said. “That professional will decide if they need treatment somewhere else.”
Standrige said all of the needed services are different depending on an individual basis, which could range from detox to outpatient drug rehabilitation services. For that reason, the cost ranges based on the participants’ needs.
San Marcos City Council Member Alyssa Garza asked if the need for mental health services was rising and said studying the metrics related to the SMPD mental health diversion program would be helpful in decision making.
Standridge said a goal of the Hays County Behavioral Advisory Team, which he is a part of and is a group of stakeholders responsible for county- wide behavioral health needs, is to work to understand the data from the other stakeholders because he can only speak to the SMPD Mental Health Unit data. He said Gregg Cox, Hays County assistant district attorney, is currently working to get that information.
