[Press Conference: "Resources for Military Veterans"]
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AND, UM, WE WANNA WELCOME THE VETERANS, GUESTS, AND VETERAN COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS.
I'M DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU TO JOIN US TODAY.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE JOINING US TODAY, AND SOME WILL BE SPEAKING LATER.
THE GOAL OF THIS PRESS CONFERENCE IS TO OFFER SOME SOLUTIONS TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL OF DUTY LIKE MYSELF AND OUR NATION'S ARMED FORCES.
WE AS A COMMUNITY STAND READY TO ASSIST IN COMBATING THIS ONGOING CRISIS AND REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE ISSUES OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS OF OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY.
SUICIDE IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THAT REQUIRES COORDINATION AND COOPERATION AMONG MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, FIRST RESPONDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
TODAY WE WANT TO DISCUSS OUR AWARENESS OF SUICIDE AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AMONG OUR ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS, MILITARY VETERANS.
WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT WE STAND TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY TO PLEDGE OUR FULL SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO'VE SERVED AND MAYBE EXPERIENCED MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
TO HELP US WITH OUR EFFORTS, WE HAVE INVITED COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS THAT WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THAT SEEK TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS OF OUR NATION.
HEROES NEXT, OUR DIRECTOR, MR. DEMBO, WILL COME UP AND FOLLOWED BY DR.
LASANDRA JONES, BOTH REPRESENTING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
AND, UH, ONCE EVERYONE HAS SPOKEN, UH, YOU'LL OFFER CLOTHING.
WE'LL OFFER SOME CLOTHING REMARKS IN REGARDS TO THIS AND, UH, WE'LL TAKE IT FROM THERE.
BEFORE I ARRIVED IN HOUSTON, EXCUSE ME, I BACK UP WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT HOUSTON GONNA BE MY PLACE THAT I WANT TO RESIDE.
DURING TIME I WAS SAN ANTONIO.
I LOOK INTO THE HISTORY AND I NOTICED AROUND THE AREA DURING THE EARLY MIGRATION, UH, IT WOULD CONSIDER THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY.
AND ALSO I NOTICED THAT HOUSTON HAD GROWN FROM A SMALL AREA ON THE BAYOU TO THE WORLD ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD WITH THE MOST DIVERSE POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE DOES NOT HAVE A MAJOR MILITARY INSULATION.
WE JUST HAVE ONE, THE ELTON FIELD.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF HOUSTON OFFERED OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL CURRENT HARRIS COUNTY, CITY OF HOUSTON HAVE THE LARGEST VETERAN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES, ALSO DONE EACH YEAR.
ACCORDING TO DOD, WE HAVE OVER 200,000 MILITARY MEMBERS TRANSITION FROM MILITARY SERVICE CIVILIAN LIFE.
NOW, BEFORE YOU GO TO THAT TRANSITION, YOU'RE GOING THROUGH YOUR CHECKLIST AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME TYPE OF MAJOR, UH, UH, CONSIDERATION.
YOU KNOW, AM I READY? UH, WOULD I BE ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING? HOW ABOUT GOING TO SCHOOL OR THE RIGHT JOB MARKET? HOW ABOUT STARTING RUNNING MY OWN BUSINESS? HOW ABOUT MY FAMILY? OKAY, HOW ABOUT MY BENEFITS? MY, UH, VA BENEFITS? ONCE YOU SIGN A DD TWO 14 AND THEY PROVIDE YOU A COPY AND YOU PACK YOUR C BAG UP FOR ONE LAST TIME, YOU NO LONGER UNDER THE SAFETY NET OF THE MILITARY, WELCOME TO TRANSITION FROM MILITARY TO CIVILIAN LIFE.
YOU'RE TRYING TO CHOOSE YOUR BEST PATH WAY OF YOUR LIFE.
TO JOIN A LIFE MAY BE EASY AND IT MAY BE HARD.
YOU CAN TASTE THE SWEETNESS OF SUCCESS OR HONEY, OR YOU CAN TASTE THE BITTERNESS OF A LEMON.
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THAT PREVENT YOU FROM ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS.DIFFICULT TIME OR LIFE CHALLENGES CAN HAVE YOU FEELING THAT YOU LOST YOUR SENSE OF DIRECTION.
IF YOU FEEL THAT IT'S AFFECTING YOUR ABILITY TO FUNCTION, THIS PLATFORM WILL BRING A WILDNESS TO SUICIDE PREVENTION, MILITARY, EXCUSE ME, MENTAL HEALTH AND GUN SAFETY.
IN ADDITION TO RESOURCES FOR HOUSING, ENCLOS GENERATION, HEALTHY GENERATION HAVE RAISED THEIR RIGHT HAND TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF UNITED STATES.
OUR VETERAN MILITARY MEMBERS HAVE PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY, OUR FREEDOM, OUR WAY OF LIFE.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU DIRECTOR DEMBO.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET INTO, UM, OUR SPEAKERS.
SO AS WE SAID EARLIER, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WORK TOGETHER WITH US IN SOLIDARITY TO ENSURE THAT SAFETY AND THE MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS OF OUR NATION'S ARMED FORCES MILITARY PEOPLE, AND ALSO THOSE WHO NO LONGER SERVING BUT OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY AS, UH, DIRECTOR DEMBO SAID THAT HOUSTON IS NOW NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION FOR THE NUMBER OF VETERANS.
SO WE'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT HERE, Y'ALL, BUT WE STILL HAVE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AWARE OF AND THAT WE ARE OFFERING SOME SOLUTIONS AND NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
SO NEXT WE'RE GONNA HAVE MR. DAVE LEWIS, DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY VETERAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE STILL A RELATIVELY NEW DEPARTMENT IN THE TERMS OF GOVERNMENT, BUT WE'RE FIVE YEARS YOUNG, UH, WORKING VERY HARD.
I'M PRIVILEGED AND HONORED TO LEAD THE 27 PROFESSIONALS, UH, THAT WORK IN OUR DEPARTMENT EVERY DAY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR VETERANS WITH BOTH THEIR CLAIMS AND BENEFITS, UM, WITH JUSTICE INVOLVED VETERANS, BUT ESPECIALLY SUICIDE PREVENTION AMONGST OUR VETERANS.
AND I THINK ALL OF US WHO WORK IN THE VETERAN COMMUNITY WHO TOUCH VETERANS, THAT'S JOB ONE FOR EVERY ONE OF US, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO DO, UH, THE BEST JOB WE CAN TO PREVENT, UH, SUICIDES.
WE'RE VERY HONORED TO BE ONE OF, UH, TWO COUNTIES IN THE UNITED STATES TO HAVE RECEIVED THE STAFF SERGEANT PARKER GORDON FOX SUICIDE PREVENTION GRANT FROM THE VA.
THIS IS WHERE WE WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE VA AND OTHER AGENCIES TO DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING THAT ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE INTERVENTIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH REFERRALS TO THE VA IDEALLY, BUT SOME THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO UTILIZE THE VA SERVICES.
WE CAN PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH REFERRALS.
WE'RE LUCKY THAT WE LIVE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S VERY RICH WITH RESOURCES.
AND SO GETTING THE PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT PLACE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO.
I WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH SOME, UM, SOME IMPORTANT RESOURCES.
UH, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT TODAY.
WE WORK WITH ALL THE AGENCIES THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY, BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT 9, 8 8.
AND I KNOW WAYNE YOUNG'S GONNA TALK ABOUT 9, 8 8.
UM, THAT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST LEAP FORWARDS IN HOW WE CAN TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING AND POTENTIALLY SUICIDAL.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE THE ONE WHO IS SUICIDAL.
UH, AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, BUT THAT'S A GIANT LEAP FORWARD.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS WE DO HAVE A CRISIS LINE.
IT'S MANNED 24 7, AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION AND YOU'RE JUST CONCERNED ABOUT A LOVED 1, 2 8, 1 8, 7, 6, 6600, PRESS THREE.
OKAY? WE'LL CONNECT YOU WITH WHOMEVER.
AND IT'S DESIGNED TO BE TRANSPARENT.
I THINK REALLY ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS STRUGGLING OR IDEALLY SEES SOMEBODY THAT IS STRUGGLING CAN START THERE AND IS TRANSPARENT TO THE VETERAN WHO'S TAKING CARE OF THE SERVICES ON WHAT END.
THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE THEIR CONCERN.
WE'LL GET THEM TO THE RIGHT PLACE.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, AGAIN, A PROGRAM THAT IS TARGETED TOWARDS FAMILY MEMBERS AND CLOSE FRIENDS.
AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM WE CALL TEXAS TWO STEP.
WHAT'S THE TEXAS TWO TWO STEP SECURE THE MEANS REACH OUT FOR HELP.
UH, AND YOU CAN FIND THAT WEBSITE TX NUMERAL TWO STEP.ORG.
WHAT'S THAT DESIGNED TO DO? IT'S DESIGNED TO GIVE SOME EDUCATION AND SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR.
SO HOW WE CAN FIGURE OUT, UM, TEMPORARY STORAGE, IDEALLY OUT OF HOME STORAGE FOR SOMEONE THAT MAY BE VULNERABLE TO A SUICIDALITY.
THAT VULNERABILITY CHANGES THAT WEAPON.
TIME AND DISTANCE IS THE THING THAT WE WANNA WORK.
WE JUST DID A VERY RECENT, UH, AND PRELIMINARY LOOK AT ALL OF OUR 2024 SUICIDES IN HARRIS COUNTY.
UH, I REGRET TO REPORT OUR SUICIDE RATE FOR VETERANS IS UP COMPARED TO 2023 AND
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76% OF VETERANS WHO TAKE THEIR LIFE USED A WEAPON.THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO FOCUSED ON THIS, A NON LEGISLATIVE APPROACH ON HOW WE CAN THINK ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THE LETHAL MEANS.
WEAPONS ARE NOT THE ONLY LETHAL MEANS, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT FOR TEXAS VETERANS AND FOR HARRIS COUNTY VETERANS, THAT'S THE MOST, UM, PREFERRED METHOD.
AND SADLY, IT'S TERRIBLY EFFECTIVE.
WE WANNA WORK HARD ON DOING THAT.
WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CAYMAN'S OFFICE TO DO, UH, A LOT OF THINGS AROUND.
EVERYBODY'S IN THIS GAME TAKES TWO COMPONENTS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A DESIRE TO END YOUR LIFE AND LETHAL MEANS TO DO SO.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD ON THAT.
FIND US AGAIN, TEXAS TWO STEP.ORG.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME OF OUR BILLBOARDS AROUND TOWN.
YOU CAN SAVE A LIFE BILLBOARDS, AND THAT'S DESIGNED TO GET, AGAIN, NOT JUST THE VETERAN, BUT THE VETERAN'S CLOSE, UH, ASSOCIATES, FAMILY MEMBERS, ET CETERA, TO SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO? OKAY, PLEASE START SOMEWHERE.
YOU'LL SEE ALL THESE AGENCIES STANDING HERE ON THE STAGE.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MATTER WHERE YOU START, BUT START SOMEWHERE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE GIVE US A CALL.
I'M A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER AT THE HOUSTON VA.
I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING COUNCILMAN DAVIS AS WELL AS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF VETERAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS FOR INCLUDING US IN THIS REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
I'M PLEASED TO BE STANDING JUST LIKE, UH, DAVE LEWIS SAID, AMONG ORGANIZATIONS WITH WHOM WE WORK EACH DAY TO SUPPORT VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, THAT COLLABORATION AND WORK TOGETHER IS CRUCIAL.
BUT MOST IMPORTANT IS ENSURING THOSE WHO NEED THE SERVICES AND RESOURCES ARE AWARE OF THEIR AVAILABILITY AND HOW TO ACCESS THEM.
THE HOUSTON VA WANTS VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO KNOW THAT OUR VA IS HERE FOR THEM.
AND PREVENTING VETERAN SUICIDE IS OUR HIGHEST CLINICAL PRIORITY AT VA.
OURS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST COMPLEX IN THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, PSYCHIATRISTS, AND OTHER SPECIALLY TRAINED CLINICIANS TO CARE FOR VETERANS AND MEET THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS.
OUR SUICIDE PREVENTION TEAM SPECIFICALLY IS COMPRISED OF 12 FULL-TIME LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS WHO, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING OTHER CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES, RECEIVED CALLS FROM THE VETERANS CRISIS LINE.
I WAS EXCITED TO HEAR DAVE TALK ABOUT IT, AND I'M, UM, PLEASED TO HEAR WAYNE WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE CRISIS LINE BECAUSE YOU'LL SEE IT IS AN IMPORTANT, UH, CONDUIT FOR US IN CONNECTING VETERANS TO CARE.
LAST WEEK ALONE, WE ADDRESSED 108 CALLS TO OUR CRISIS LINE FOR VETERANS IN THE HOUSTON AREA.
WE ARE INCREDIBLY COMMITTED TO LINKING VETERANS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND PROVIDING VETERANS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS THE GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION NECESSARY TO CONNECT TO CARE OUTCOMES OF THOSE CRISIS LINE CALLS INCLUDE ENGAGEMENT IN SAME-DAY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE, THE PROVISION OF GUN LOCKS AND CHAMBER SAFETY FLAGS, AND THE DELIVERY OF RESOURCES TO ADDRESS PSYCHOSOCIAL STRESSORS.
THAT INCLUDES EXTENSIVE HOMELESS SERVICES AT OUR CRRC AIMED AT HOUSING VETERANS AND LINKING 'EM WITH THE MANY SERVICES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO RECOVER IN A CRISIS.
VETERANS HAVE ACCESS TO OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS STAFFED 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK BY MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS THROUGH COMPACT ACT LEGISLATION.
VETERANS IN ACUTE SUICIDE CRISIS MAY RECEIVE CARE AT ANY EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AT NO CHARGE.
IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, OUR VA HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS YOU SEE ON THE STAGE TODAY TO ENSURE THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR VETERANS, NO MATTER THEIR ELIGIBILITY STATUS.
AS A REMINDER, THE VETERANS CRISIS LINE CAN BE REACHED AT 9, 8, 8.
YOU PRESS ONE IF YOU'RE A VETERAN OR YOU'RE CALLING ABOUT A VETERAN.
WE WANT VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO KNOW THAT IN A CRISIS HEALTH IS AVAILABLE AND RECOVERY AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S AN HONOR AND PLEASURE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY ON THE VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW LOCAL SERVICES SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT POPULATION.
MY NAME IS WAYNE YOUNG AND I'M THE CEO OF THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
AND IDD THE HARRIS CENTER IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF COMMUNITY-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND IDD SERVICES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, LOCATED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
THE HARRIS CENTER PROVIDES A FULL CONTINUUM OF SERVICES.
WE DO NOT DENY SERVICES BASED ON PATIENT'S ABILITY TO PAY RACE, COLOR, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY, RELIGION, AGE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, OR VETERAN STATUS.
NOW I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE VERY FIRST THING I SAID, WHICH IS WE DON'T DIFFERENTIATE PEOPLE OR SERVE THEM DIFFERENTLY BASED ON THEIR ABILITY TO PAY.
IN FACT, WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE ARE DESIGNED TO BE THE SAFETY NET MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
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NO RESOURCES, THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE HERE TO SERVE.UM, WE HAVE, UH, 2,600 DEDICATED STAFF MEMBERS WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO TRY AND PROVIDE, UM, SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD ISSUES, UM, AND ALL CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH THOSE NEEDS IN AN EFFORT TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE SAFETY NET FOR VETERANS.
THE HAIR CENTER WAS THE FIRST COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER IN THE COUNTRY TO CREATE A CARE COORDINATION AGREEMENT WITH THE VA SO THAT NO MATTER WHICH POINT OF ENTRY OF VETERAN ACCESS, WE COULD HELP GET THEM TO THE RIGHT PLACE SEAMLESSLY WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO REPEATEDLY TELL THEIR STORY OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
UM, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE'VE CREATED NO WRONG DOOR OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE SET THE STAGE FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES TO CREATE SIMILAR AGREEMENTS.
IN FACT, OUR WHOLE REGION NOW HAS WORKED ON THOSE AGREEMENTS.
THE, UM, VETERANS ACTIVE DUTY MILL SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, UM, ANYBODY INCLUDING THOSE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR CARE AT THE VA CAN RECEIVE SERVICES FROM THE HARRIS CENTER.
SO THERE'S, THIS IS NOT A CONCERN ABOUT THE ELIGIBILITY.
I KNOW THAT GETS FAIRLY COMPLICATED AND COMPLEX, BUT FOR US, IF YOU'RE IN HARRIS COUNTY, UM, THEN WE CAN SERVE YOU.
IF YOU'RE IN CRISIS IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE CAN SERVE YOU.
WE CAN ALSO HELP CONNECT YOU TO OTHER SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT CAN HELP MEET ADDITIONAL NEEDS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
IF YOU CALL 7 1 3 9 7 OH 7,000.
I'LL TALK ABOUT 9 8 8 IN JUST A MINUTE.
BUT THAT 7 1 3 9 7 OH 7,000 NUMBER DOES A COUPLE OF THINGS.
IT IS THE PORTAL AND ENTRY POINT TO WHERE YOU CAN CONNECT WITH OUR MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM.
WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF TEAMS THAT CAN GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, PLACES OF BUSINESS, PEOPLE'S HOMES, AREAS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE SOMEBODY MIGHT JUST BE EXPERIENCING A CRISIS AND RESPOND TO THEM AND HELP SUPPORT THEM AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEXT STEP MIGHT BE FOR THEM IS THAT SAME NUMBER CAN ALSO HELP YOU GET CONNECTED TO OUR REGULAR OUTPATIENT SERVICES.
I KNOW WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT CRISIS AND SUICIDE BECAUSE THAT'S A, A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND CRITICAL, BUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE HESITANT TO REACH OUT BECAUSE THEY THINK, WELL, I'M NOT THAT BAD.
UM, THAT IS THE SAME NUMBER THAT YOU CAN USE TO GAIN ACCESS TO OUR CLINIC SERVICES.
AND FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR, WE HAVE A SAME DAY CLINIC ACCESS MODEL, MEANING YOU CAN WALK INTO OUR CLINIC AND SEE A PROVIDER THAT DAY, HAVE AN ASSESSMENT, AND WE'LL HELP YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEXT STEP MIGHT BE FOR YOU.
UM, THERE IS, YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD REFERENCE TO 9 8 8, WHICH IS A THREE DIGIT NUMBER THAT NATIONALLY FROM ANYWHERE IN OUR COUNTRY, YOU CAN DIAL THAT NUMBER AND BE SPEAKING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CLINICIAN.
UM, NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE AT, IT SO HAPPENS THAT WE ARE ONE OF FOUR CENTERS IN TEXAS THAT ANSWER THOSE 9, 8, 8 CALLS.
UM, WE ANSWER ABOUT HALF OF THE CALLS FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
IF YOU CALL 9 8 8, IF YOU PUSH ONE, YOU WILL NOT COME TO US.
YOU'LL COME TO ANOTHER SET OF VERY SKILLED, TALENTED CLINICIANS WHO CAN HELP SUPPORT A VETERAN IN CRISIS OR A LOVED ONE OF A VETERAN WHO MAY BE CALLING ABOUT A VETERAN.
UM, BUT IF YOU DON'T PRESS ONE, YOU'RE GONNA LAND WITH US.
IT'S THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE.
SO SOMETIMES IF YOU HAVE A HARD TIME REMEMBERING THE 7 1 3 9 7 OH 7,000 NUMBER, IF YOU CALL 9 8 8, YOU'RE GONNA END UP BACK WITH US ANYWAY, AND WE CAN STILL HELP WITH THAT NAVIGATION SERVICE.
LAST YEAR WE ANSWERED OVER 200,000 CRISIS CALLS BETWEEN THOSE TWO NUMBERS.
WE'RE VERY CAPABLE, AND WE REALLY KNOW HOW TO HELP CONNECT PEOPLE TO SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.
UM, SO IN SHORT, 7 1 3 9 7 OH 7,000, IF YOU CAN'T REMEMBER THAT 9 8 8 WILL GET YOU THERE.
I ALSO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AS YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD, THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS REALLY TRIED HARD TO WEAVE TOGETHER A SAFETY NET FOR VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, WE'VE WORKED COLLABORATIVELY AND HUGE CREDIT GOES TO THE AGENCIES THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM AND SOME THAT YOU WILL, UM, PARTICULARLY HIGHLIGHTING THE B MEDICAL CENTER, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, HARRIS COUNTY PSYCHIATRIC CENTER, AND OTHER NON VA PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS THAT PROVIDE EMERGENCY AND ACUTE SERVICES TO THOSE THAT NEED IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
I WANNA SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR INVITING US, UH, TO BE PART OF THIS.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH EVERYBODY HERE BEHIND US.
UH, ONE OF THEM BEING OUR COS RESPONDER TEAM, WHICH IS A CHRIST INTERVENTION RESPONSE TEAM AT PAIRS A, A MENTAL HEALTH POLICE OFFICER WITH A FULL-TIME, UH, MASTER LEVEL CLINICIAN.
AND WE RESPOND TO ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY AND COLLABORATE WITH THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
BUT ONE OF THE MOST AMA OTHER AMAZING PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IS A PROGRAM CALLED THE CLINICIAN AND OFFICER REMOTE EVALUATION PROGRAM.
WHAT WE DID IS WE EQUIPPED, UH, DEPUTIES AND POLICE OFFICERS WITH THE TABLET.
SO WHEN THEY RESPOND TO A CALL FOR SERVICE AND THERE'S A MENTAL HEALTH NEXUS OR SOME TYPE OF QUESTION, THEY PULL UP THE TABLET AND THEY FACETIME A CLINICIAN FROM THE HARRIS CENTER.
WE HAVE 18 POLICE AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IN ALL THE CONSTABLES OFFICE, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT, UH, WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THE HARRIS COUNTY VETERAN SERVICES,
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UH, PROGRAM INTO THE TABLET.SO NOW WHEN A POLICE OFFICER OR A DEPUTY RESPONDS TO A CALL AND THEY FIND THEMSELVES TALKING TO A VETERAN, THEY'RE ABLE TO CONNECT THAT VETERAN WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY VETERAN SERVICES OUT IN THE FIELD AND CONNECT THEM TO THE RESOURCES IMMEDIATELY OUT THERE.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT PROGRAM.
UH, AGAIN, WE TRAIN OUR POLICE OFFICERS IN CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING AND OTHER RELATED PRO UH, TRAININGS LIKE THAT.
SO IF ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED FROM US, UH, YOU CAN, UH, OBVIOUSLY 9 1 1 OR 7 1 3 2 2 1 6,000.
YOU'VE HEARD THE OTHER TELEPHONE NUMBERS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO ALL OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RELATED PROGRAMS AT THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THOSE THAT WE COLLABORATE WITH.
AND IT'S WW DOT HARRIS COUNTY CIT.ORG.
AS HE EXPLAINED, UM, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE, UH, TRAINED TO DEAL WITH THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED IN COMBAT, UH, VETERANS, SO THAT WHEN THEY COME OUT, UH, SOME OFTENTIMES IT IS A VETERAN THAT IS SPEAKING TO A VETERAN.
I THINK NO ONE KNOWS OUR LANGUAGE BETTER THAN THOSE OF US WHO HAVE SERVED.
UM, AND I ALSO WANNA MAKE A SPECIAL REFERENCE, AND I ALSO A THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN ABBY CAYMAN AND HER INITIATIVE TO START A FIREARM SAFETY STORAGE.
SO IF ANYBODY IS IN CRISIS, THEY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR FIREARM STORED WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF PENALTY TO BE SAFELY STORED UNTIL THE THEIR, UM, THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
AND THAT'LL BE FOR, UM, WHETHER THE VETERAN CALLS OR WHETHER A FRIEND CALLS, OR WHETHER THE SPOUSE OF THE VETERAN CALLS.
SO, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN KIM.
AND ALSO, AGAIN, I I, I WANNA THANK THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE.
COUNCILWOMAN, UM, HUFFMAN, MY COUNCILWOMAN.
UM, ALSO, UH, DISTRICT D STEVEN JAMES, STILL HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
AGAIN, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, UH, STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH US, UH, AS WE DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES.
UM, AND I, UH, I, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND I SAW STATISTIC SETS THAT, UM, THOSE WHO ARE FACING HOUSING CHALLENGES ARE MORE PRONE TO COMMIT SUICIDE.
SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WANNA ALSO OFFER A QUICK RESOURCE.
THERE IS THE, UH, COMMUNITY RESOURCE AND REFERRAL AGENCY, WHICH IS, I'M SORRY, COMMUNITY RESOURCE AND REFERRAL CENTER, WHICH IS A COMPONENT OF THE VA ADMINISTRATION.
SO IF THERE IS ANY VETERAN WHO IS EXPERIENCING HOUSING CHALLENGES, UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET OVER TO, UM, THE, THE DROP-IN CENTER ON THE 1700 WEBSTER TO LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU'RE FACING SOME TYPE OF HOUSING CHALLENGE SO THEY CAN GET YOU TO A SHELTER AND BEGIN YOU ON THE PATH TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
AND SO, AGAIN, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WANNA OFFER A COUPLE OF, UM, AGENCIES THAT HAVE STEPPED UP TO SAY WE HAVE, UH, SOME DROP OFF LOCATIONS, IF ANY VETERAN WHO IS, UH, IN NEED OF WARMING BLANKETS, WARMING CLOTHING, UH, AND THAT IS OUR VFW 87 90 AMERICAN LEGION POST 6 54 AND THE PALM CHURCH.
SO I WILL ALSO GIVE YOU GUYS THOSE ADDRESSES, BUT THEY'LL ALSO BE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LATER TODAY.
VFW 87 90 IS HERE, 1560 VFWA, UH, MARI LEGION POST 6 54, 31 0 5 CAMPBELL ROAD, AND THE PALM CHURCH, WHICH IS COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS CHURCH, WHICH IS LOCATED 1114 MLK BOULEVARD.
SO ALL THREE OF THESE LOCATIONS FOR THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS WILL BE DROP OFF LOCATIONS IF ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY HAS A BLANKET, SOCKS, UH, GLOVES, HATS, ANYTHING THAT WILL HELP TO KEEP OUR VETERANS OR SERVICE MEMBERS WARM BECAUSE THE TEMPERATURES ARE DROPPED A LITTLE BIT.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE OFFERING RESOURCES.
SO ANYONE IN THE VETERAN COMMUNITY, ANYONE IN THE HOUSTON AREA COMMUNITY CAN COME OUT TO SUPPORT.
ALSO, WE WANNA THANK, UM, UM, METRO CHIEF, UM, CHIEF MANIN, OUR THREE TIME COMBAT VETERAN FOR BEING HERE TO SUPPORT HIS OWN COMMUNITY TODAY.
AND WE WANNA THANK DIRECTOR ANGEL PUNT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MAYOR'S OFFICE OF DISABILITIES FOR BEING HERE.
IF THERE'S ANY OTHER, UM, DEPARTMENT THAT IS HERE, WE WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
AND I DO WANNA DO A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO THE AGENCIES THAT HAVE, HAVE STOPPED WHAT THEY'RE DOING TODAY TO COME OUT TO SUPPORT.
WE HAVE THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE.
WE HAVE THE TUNED IN FOR VETS VFW 87 90 VF POST, UH, AGAIN, 87 90, THE CRRC, THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BAKER RIPLEY, SALVATION ARMY.
UM, ANY OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE HERE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
WEST OAKS MENTAL HEALTH, UH, TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION, UH, TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION.
CAMP SHIELD, UM, DRESS FOR SUCCESS.
ALL OF THESE AGENTS, AGAIN, ARE HERE, I'M SORRY, RICHARD T. ANDERSON, UM, FACILITY, UH, RICHARD, A ANDERSON FACILITY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY TO COME TO BE WITH US IN SOLIDARITY AGAIN.
UM, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT I MISS YOU? OKAY, TIM, STAY TUNED FOR VETS
AND ONE LAST THING FOR ME, ALSO, WE DO HAVE GUN LOCKS, SO WE'D ALSO GET THOSE
[00:25:01]
CALLS HERE AND SAY, HEY, I HAVE SOMEONE WHO WAS IN A CRISIS.UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY GUN LOCKS? WE ALWAYS OFFERING GUN LOCKS.
IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS IN NEED OF A GUN LOCK, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE SUICIDE PREVENTION DEPARTMENT AT THE VA.
UH, AND AGAIN, I WILL TRANSFER THIS OVER TO COUNCILMAN DAVIS.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING? DID YOU, ANYBODY? DID YOU WANT? YOU GOOD? OKAY.
SO, UH, COUNCILMAN DAVIS, YOU WANNA COME UP AND CLOSE US OUT, PLEASE? THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY.
COME ON, LET'S GIVE 'EM ALL A HAND.
AND LET ME JUST THANK AGAIN TO THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE PRESENT WITH US.
COUNCILMAN, UH, ABBY CAYMAN AND THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM OTHER COUNCIL OFFICES BECAUSE, UH, AS, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND A VETERAN, WHICH I TAKE VERY SERIOUS, UH, ONE OF MY HEARTBEATS AND GOALS WAS TO DO ALL THAT I COULD, UH, AS A COUNCIL PERSON TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE ISSUES AS, UH, FAMILY, UH, MEMBERS AND OTHERS WHO ARE VETERAN TO MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED AND GIVEN THEIR LIFE.
UH, I'M SO HONORED TO STAND WITH ALL OF THESE STAKEHOLDERS WHO TAKE THIS ISSUE SERIOUS AND WHO IS COMMITTED TO GIVING THEIR ALL TO THE SERVICES.
UH, I'M CERTAINLY GRATEFUL TO DIRECT THE DEBO AND TO DR. JONES, UH, WHO EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, UH, TAKE THE LEAD FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF, OF VETERAN AND MILITARY AFFAIRS AND ALL OF WHAT THEY DO.
I'M REALLY HONORED TO WORK WITH THEM AND TO GIVE AND MY SUPPORT TO THEM.
UH, BUT LASTLY, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE A MAYOR WHO TAKES THIS VERY SERIOUS, UH, MAYOR APPOINTED ME AS THE LIAISON, UH, WITH THE VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE, AND I'M HONORED TO DO IT.
AND I ALWAYS WANNA MAKE SURE MY STAFF IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN BECAUSE HOUSTON NEED TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE MEN AND WOMEN VETERANS WHO ARE SERVING AND HAVE SERVED AND TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY, THE THINGS THAT THEY GO THROUGH ON A DAY TO DAY.
SO, UH, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING AND, UH, I'M HAPPY AND, AND GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF THIS GREAT AUDIENCE OF, OF GREAT SUPPORTERS.
AND THAT, UH, WILL CONCLUDE IT.
UH, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE HAVE, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE, BUT THAT'S, THIS IS, UH, UH, OUR WAY OF PRESENTING.
UM, COM COMBINED ARMS. WE WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE IN THE COALITION OF HOMELESS.
AND ALSO WE HAVE A BUNCH OF CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEES THAT ARE VETERANS YES.
THAT LEFT THEIR OFFICES TO COME HERE.
BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, GOD BLESS YOU ALL.