20200422-2B part 7: Hispanic Latino Quality of Life Commission budget recommendation on mental health — original pdf

Recommendation

JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION 20200422-02B Date: April 22, 2020 Recommendation Subject: Support of the Hispanic Latino Quality of Life Commission Budget Recommendation on mental health services. Motioned By: Solis Seconded By: Orlowski The Joint Inclusion Committee supports the Hispanic Latino Quality of Life Commission Budget Recommendation on mental health services. Description of Recommendation to Council The Joint Inclusion Committee strengthens connections between City boards and commissions concerned with quality of life in Austin and advises the City Council on issues pertaining to equity, diversity, and inclusion. This resolution furthers equity, diversity and inclusion. For: Briesemeister, Austen, Solis, Crawford, Stanton, Curry, Orlowski See attached. Rationale: Vote Against: None Abstain: None Absent: Weigel, Jones Attest: Janee Briesemeister, Chair Form Name: Submission Time: Browser: IP Address: Unique ID: Location: Your Information Commission Budget Recommendation Form April 24, 2020 2:20 pm Chrome 81.0.4044.122 / Windows 66.90.190.251 604128692 Your Name Felicia Pena Your Commission Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission Email BC-Amanda.Afifi@austintexas.gov After question three, which questions from the flowchart are you prepared to answer? Is there funding? Which department holds the funding? Which orgs receive it? How is success measured? What are the impacts, and gaps? Root Cause Analysis Story: What did you hear from the community? Problem: What is the problem you identify? How does the problem show up in your community? Who is most impacted by the problem? Is there funding to address the problem? Yes There is a need to expand mental health services for the Latinx community, including LGBTQIA+ communities, veterans, youth, families, and survivors of abuse. Addressing mental health concerns within these communities can potentially stop cycles of abuse and trauma. We also heard that victims of crimes are not receiving the appropriate support they need to process and heal from the traumatizing event they witnessed and/or experienced. There is a lack of affordable and accessible mental health resources for women, families, LGBTQIA+ communities, veterans, and survivors of abuse and the agencies that are currently providing these services need additional funding to expand services. Additional funding is needed to allow agencies to hire additional social workers, expand to provide services in schools and additional neighborhoods/communities, and align with City of Austin efforts to serve Latinx communities. Lack of mental health resources can lead to issues in the home, work, school, and public. Untreated mental health issues leads to an increase in overall suicide rates, and suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the US for people of all ages. Characteristics of mental health problems may be misinterpreted by APD, and lead to unnecessary arrests and criminal records. Communities that are most impacted by this issue are Latinx women, families, LGBTQIA+ communities, veterans, and survivors of abuse.