May 5, 2024 

This funding will establish a diversion center, co-located with Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) to offer a timely and accessible alternative for law enforcement to direct individuals experiencing mental health crises. Integral Care data found that approximately 40% of individuals in Travis County jail have a mental health disorder. By providing 24/7 access to screening, triage, assessment, medication evaluation, and peer support services, the diversion center ensures that individuals receive appropriate care in a setting specifically designed for behavioral health crises, rather than being taken to jail or emergency departments, which are ill-equipped to address these complex needs.  

Through this diversion funding, Integral Care will also establish a Therapeutic Diversion Program (TDP) which will offer an extended residential treatment option for justice-involved individuals, addressing the multifaceted barriers they face, including unstable housing, substance use, and severe mental illness. By providing individualized care and treatment in a therapeutic setting for up to 90 days or longer, the program aims to break the cycle of repeated involvement in the criminal legal system and connect individuals to the services and support they need to achieve stability and recovery. Funding is for two years and covers salaries for 40 Integral Care employees.