U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) will join Lubbock civic and community leaders tomorrow at the newly-opened Community Health Center of Lubbock (CHCL) to highlight CHCL’s partnerships with the Lubbock Police Department’s new Homeless Outreach Team and other entities helping Lubbock’s homeless and mentally ill. Senator Cornyn will also discuss his new Mental Health & Safe Communities Act, which is modeled in part on innovative programs in Texas like this one.
The Mental Health and Safe Communities Act is designed to enhance the ability of local communities to identify and treat potentially dangerous mentally-ill individuals. It will increase the use of treatment-based alternatives for mentally-ill offenders, improve crisis response and prevention by local officials, and help strengthen the existing background check system without expanding it.
This bipartisan bill is endorsed by a diverse group of organizations, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National Association of Police Organizations, and the National Association of Social Workers.
Following the roundtable discussion, Sen. Cornyn will tour the CHCL facilities and hold a joint press conference.
WHO:
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
Dan Pope, Mayor, City of Lubbock
Tom Head, County Judge, Lubbock County
Kelly Rowe, Sheriff, Lubbock County
Michael Sullivan, CEO, Community Health Center of Lubbock
Sergeant Eric Quijada, Homeless Outreach Team, Lubbock Police Department
Christopher Moore, Executive Director, Paul’s Project
Chad Wheeler, Director, Carpenter’s Church & President, South Plains Homeless Consortium
WHEN:
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
2:50pm – Roundtable
3:25pm – Tour of facility
3:35pm – Media availability
WHERE:
Community Health Center of Lubbock
1610 5th Street
Lubbock, TX 79401
(News release from the Office of U.S. Senator John Cornyn)
