D6 Councilwoman Praises City’s Investment in Foster Youth Services

Published on February 03, 2023

$2.27 million in ARPA funding may be the largest municipal investment in Texas

SAN ANTONIO (February 3, 2023) – District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda thanked the city’s nonprofit community for their commitment and energy in responding to the City's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds disbursement process.

The Council approved $36.4 million in ARPA funds designated for mental health, youth, and senior support. The Council’s Public Safety Committee, which the Councilwoman chairs, was tasked with guiding the disbursement of $26 million designated specifically for mental health.

“This has been a months-long, transparent, and deliberative process,” said the Councilwoman. “The Public Safety Committee was tasked with making the best use of the allocated funds and the nonprofit community stepped up with support service funding ideas to help meet the city’s mental health recovery needs.”

The Committee’s work focused on equity, outcomes, and impact, as well as providing support for communities and groups that don’t traditionally receive the support they need. Nearly 100 agencies applied for funding to provide essential mental and behavioral care assistance to address the level of need across the city in the wake of the pandemic.

“Nonprofit organizations are on the front lines of mental health services, and they're best equipped to lead the City’s COVID mental health recovery response. Twenty-six million dollars is a drop in the bucket, considering the community’s mental health needs and today a strong investment was made towards helping foster children and those who are aging out of the foster care system,” she said. “These children, through no fault of their own, are left to fend for themselves with no family support. Their needs have historically been passed over for other needs that have been deemed more important.”

Child Advocates San Antonio, which was awarded ARPA funding, said that the $2.27 million disbursement for foster child support service could be the largest total one-time municipal investment in foster youth services in the state of Texas.