Newtown shooting sheds new light on mental health, lack of funding for programs

NEWTOWN, CT -- The shooting in Newtown has also brought up questions when it comes to funding of mental health programs. The shooter, Adam Lanza, was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. His family had resources, but many others do not. And in Texas, it can be difficult to get help.

The school shooting has put mental health back on the public policy radar, and in Texas, it is not a pleasant image. In fact, the Harris County Jail is now a symbol of what's become the largest mental health treatment facility in nation's fourth city.

There are about 9,000 inmates at the Harris County Jail, held for everything from misdemeanors to major crimes. But of that number, a fourth are housed in the jail's mental health unit, a psychiatric center of last resort.

"When there are no available treatment resources or facilities outside of the law enforcement correctional environment, then you push the problem over to jails and prisons," Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia said.

The cost is huge. The state has cut mental health funding over the years, to the point it now ranks last in the nation, according to several studies. While outpatient mental health services cost less, in jail, when security, housing and medication is added in, it's estimated to have run about $70 million last year.

"We have 2,100 patients right now. We've been up to as high as 2,500 per month, for a long time," said Mona Lisa Jiles, an administrator with the MHMRA

At the county jail, the inmate patients are stabilized, put on medication, and if they aren't a danger to themselves or others, by law they are released. The problem is to what often it's to the streets.

"I think we always worry about them and often times unfortunately we see them back very soon," said Dr. Michael Seale, the jail's medical director.

With what's happened in Connecticut, there will be a call in the upcoming Texas Legislature to restore some of that mental health funding.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more National/World »

Connecticut school shooting, national/world, deborah wrigley

View the original article here

Certain sports could lose all school funding

  By Demond FernandezFRIENDSWOOD, TX (KTRK) -- You've heard it a lot lately -- school districts across our state are making tough decisions in a tough economy. Now budget cuts are hitting another local school district, and parents are not happy.

The target of these cuts is athletics. A proposal would cut funding for certain sports at Friendswood ISD.

The superintendent says this school district is nickel and diming it right now. She says it just doesn't have the money to continue supporting some sports programs.

Around Friendswood ISD, parents like Marie Tkac say sporting events bring the community together. Her son is on the football team.

"Programs like that, parents rely on that," she said.

But now a big budget blow has the Friendswood school board considering $40,000 worth of cuts in the athletics department, among other areas.

Tkac said, "I think that would be a big mistake."

I found out about 150 to 200 students in this district participate in non-university interscholastic league sanctioned sports. The superintendent told me this district is too broke to support lacrosse, swimming and gymnastics.

The board is also looking at possibly slashing funding for co-ed soccer at the junior high, as well as high school water polo. But the superintendent says those teams would continue using the facility.

"It's going to make a big difference," Tkac said. "It's going to be a negative effect, unfortunately."

Board members say with a $4 million budget deficit looming, they just don't think they'll have the money to pay non-UIL coach stipends, team travel to games and entry fees.

They say the athletic director is also proposing $11,000 in cuts for his UIL football team. That has Christopher Tkac concerned.

"I would think it would be a decrease in quite acceptable rated equipment, which would probably take an impact," he said.

Board members say the athletic director is also proposing his UIL teams limit the amount of tournaments outside the area to save money on travel.

The board is also considering major cuts in other areas as well.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

friendswood, local

View the original article here

Area Level-One trauma centers fight for funding

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Houston area's Level One trauma centers are joining forces to keep the state's budget crunch from affecting the way they save lives.

Officials from Ben Taub, Memorial Hermann and UTMB in Galveston are urging the state to continue funding critical care facilities in Texas. They say since 2004, the state has cut in half the money designated for trauma centers and it's having a major impact on patient care. ""The financing that comes from the state legislature to the trauma centers is extremely important. Without that funding, death rate will go up in Houston, in Texas and across the United States," said Memorial Hermann Trauma Center Surgeon Dr. John Holcomb. The Houston-Galveston area has only three Level One trauma centers. In comparison, Boston has eight and Chicago has seven. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local

View the original article here