*All videos are Closed Captioned on Youtube*
Jail Re-Entry Program: Mr. Simon* is an Iraq War veteran who was referred to us by Brothers in Arms, a program assisting veterans at the Harris County jail. Shortly before Mr. Simon was released, we offered him a bed at our new Jail Re-Entry program during the time Veterans Affairs coordinated permanent housing for him. Mr. Simon was admitted to our program on Jan. 11 this year.
Although Mr. Simon stayed at 6160 only five days, we had the pleasure of assisting him with clothes and bus passes, and we linked him to an outpatient mental health clinic and The National Outreach program, a Texas Workforce Commission partnership whose mission is to give hope to the people who are homeless and unemployed. Our team also provided Mr. Simon training to help with post-traumatic stress disorder.
When Mr. Simon was discharged, he told us that his time at the Jail Re-Entry program was “the first time in many years” since his grandmother passed away during his deployment in Iraq that he feels that he has a “hopeful future ahead of him”. As he departed he told us “ I hope to be a success story for the Jail Re-Entry program. Thank you for everything.”
*The name of the client has been altered to safeguard his privacy.
Javier* was referred to the Respite, Rehabilitation and Re-Entry center by the Coalition of the Homeless. He had experienced chronic homelessness for over 20 years, and also faced substance abuse challenges and bipolar disorder.
"A male consumer came to our Jail Diversion Center with a long history of substance abuse which was causing multiple problems in his life including difficulty holding a job, strained relations with his loving and supportive family, and repeated homelessness. Staff were working to coordinate transitional housing placement for him, but he left the Center without notice, saying he was going back to stay with family.
Harris County now has a new resource to help keep people with mental illness out of the Harris County Jail. The new Judge Ed Emmett Mental Health Diversion Center provides law enforcement with a community-based alternative for persons with mental illness who have been picked up for low-level, non-violent offenses such as trespass. The Diversion Center celebrated its ribbon-cutting and dedication October 1, 2018 at 9 a.m.
Carla* came to The Harris Center's Peer Re-entry Program in 2019 while she was at the Harris County Jail. She struggled with substance use and felt overwhelmed not knowing how to begin her journey to recovery. She was eager and willing to make the necessary changes, but needed help.
Kim Tope is a licensed master social worker and a certified anger resolution therapist. More pertinent to her current role at The Harris Center, Kim is also a certified peer specialist who uses her own lived experience in recovery from mental illness to help those who find themselves in need of support and treatment through a one-of-a-kind program in Texas known as The P.E.E.R.S. for Hope House.
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The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD strives to provide high quality, efficient, and cost effective services so that persons with mental disabilities may live with dignity as fully functioning, participating, and contributing members of our community, regardless of their ability to pay based on a sliding scale rate schedule. Privacy Statement Contact Us