April 29, 2009

Meadows Foundation Awards Grant to Hill Country MHMR Center

The Meadows Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to Hill Country Community MHMR Center for start up costs associated with the Hill Country Crisis Stabilization Unit.  The grant funds are matching funds toward a challenge grant awarded to Hill Country by the Hal and Charlie Peterson Foundation. 

The Meadows Foundation is among the most recognized private philanthropies in the country.  It has received numerous awards for both its philanthropy and its management.  It was the first recipient of the Texas Medal of the Arts for sustained support of arts and culture in Texas, and was named Outstanding Foundation of the year by the National Society of Fund Raising Executives. 

Established in 1948 by Algur H. and Virginia Meadows, The Meadows Foundation is a private philanthropic institution to benefit the people of Texas.  The Foundation’s mission is to assist the people and institutions of Texas improve the quality and circumstances of life for themselves and future generations.  The foundation has a particular philanthropic interest in three areas:  public education (particularly in the areas of early child development, enhanced reading skills, and teacher preparation), mental health, and the environment.  The Meadows Foundation looks for programs and services that employ imaginative, innovative ways to solve community problems through projects leading to organizational self-sufficiency and in capital plans that enable agencies to flourish.  It seeks to support projects that can alleviate pain, enhance social skills and promote better human relations.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the Meadows Foundation with this award”, said Linda Werlein, CEO of Hill Country.  “We have been working with Representative Harvey Hilderbran and the Department of State Health Services for the last six years to develop a crisis stabilization unit which will guarantee the availability of civil commitment beds in our local area for individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis.  Representative Hildebran and Senator Uresti have both sponsored bills in the current legislative session which will change the Hill Country Crisis Stabilization Unit from a pilot program to a permanent program for our local area.”

Hill Country Community MHMR Center, headquartered in Kerrville, serves the mental health needs of a nineteen county area of the greater Texas Hill Country.  The 16 bed crisis stabilization unit proposed by House Bill 1678 and Senate Bill 1054 will authorize Hill Country to operate the unit to meet the mental health needs of individuals requiring up to 14 days of inpatient services to help stabilize the symptoms of their illness.  The center will help patients by addressing goals and needs such as psychiatric services, supported housing, supported employment, and co-occurring psychiatric and substance abuse issues. Referrals will be made to addictive services, and jail diversion services will be available in order to prevent patients from becoming involved in the criminal justice system.

“The crisis unit is much needed in our community,” said Werlein.  “Our services will focus on empowering individuals to accept the responsibility to work on recovery from their illness.  Having this facility is a win for law enforcement, hospitals, and – most importantly – the patients themselves, who will benefit from receiving care closer to home.”

The Hill Country Crisis Stabilization Unit is planned to open the beginning of May and will bring more than 30 new jobs to the local community with an annual salary base of over $1.5 million.  Hill Country is in the final stages of meeting the $116,000 challenge grant awarded by the Hal & Charlie Peterson Foundation.  Currently, Hill Country has raised $90,000 in matching funds and needs $26,000 to fully meet the match requirement.  If you would like more information on the unit or would like to assist Hill Country with meeting the challenge grant requirement, you may contact the Development Office of Hill Country at 819 Water Street, Suite 300 Kerrville, TX 78028.