Ellis County’s Behavioral Health Department has been in existence for one year now, and its director gave a progress update to the county Commissioners’ Court on Tuesday.

Caitlin Wilkinson, director of the new department, said one of the biggest things in starting it was developing relationships with local health providers.

Some of the community partners include the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority, Unite Ellis, the United Way, the Suicide Prevention Advisory Council, and several hospitals. The department also provides behavioral health services with the Ellis County Jail.

The Behavioral Health Department coordinates the treatment for the Veterans’ Treatment Court.

“Our mentors are doing so much work for the veterans for free,” Wilkinson said. “Frankly we could not accomplish half of what we’ve accomplished without our treatment court mentors. They’ve been instrumental.”

Wilkinson said she is also involved in community education, suicide prevention, and basic behavioral health education for defense attorneys. In addition, she said her department is working on a re-entry collaborative with North Texas Behavioral Health Authority in order to help people coming out of incarceration and reduce the recidivism rate.

Among the goals for 2025, Wilkinson said, is the implementation of a separate Behavioral Health Leadership Team for Ellis County. This team makes decisions, addresses gaps in coverage, reviews progress of work groups, develops new goals as old ones are achieved, and keeps the community updated on progress of those goals.

County Judge Todd Little noted that Ellis County already falls under the umbrella of the Dallas County team, but that Ellis County has its own set of issues and needs its own team.

Other goals include establishing a crisis intervention and stress management coalition; the creation of a mental health treatment court; a Local Outreach for Suicide Survivors (LOSS) program; and opioid prevention and response education and resourcing. Wilkinson said grants are available to help achieve these goals.

Closing gaps in mental health intervention is another goal. Wilkinson said she hopes to establish a Mental Health Response Team for all law enforcement agencies, as well as provide support and resources for the unhoused.

All members of the court were present.

Other items

• The approved consent agenda included acceptance of various reports, appointments to boards, approval of grant applications, and several budgetary items.
• The court approved five plats and two variance requests as part of the development agenda.
• Commissioners agreed to the purchase of audiovisual equipment for the new Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace sub-courthouse, as well as a new glass transaction window at the Precinct 4 JP sub-courthouse.
• A task order for the county’s ongoing projects with the Kitchell firm was approved in an amount of $451,950.
• A resolution was approved supporting the creation of an additional district court in Ellis County due to population growth. Judge Grace Pandithurai of the 443rd District Court told commissioners there are 1,735 active felony cases in the county, and an additional 1,119 cases pending with active warrants.
• Following an executive session, the court agreed to adopt minimum rabies vaccination standards as set forth by the state, and approved Dr. Susan Heath as the county rabies control authority.