Veterans who travel to Veterans Affairs clinics in Fort Worth or Dallas for mental health services soon may find more help locally.

A state grant will provide case management services to Denton County military veterans and their families. And the local VA clinic is looking for space to expand its mental health services in Denton.

Tuesday morning, representatives from United Way of Denton County, Denton County Veterans Service and the Denton County MHMR Center told county commissioners the Texas Department of Health and Human Services Commission awarded the Denton County Behavioral Health Leadership Team a grant totaling $175,199.

The funding required a 100 percent match supported by the local United Way, Flow Health Care Foundation, Denton Benefit League and private donations, resulting in about $350,000 in services. In providing more access to veterans, case managers also will work remotely from facilities at the MHMR Center and Denton County Veterans Coalition.

“Having two case workers available to help guide and actually work with these veterans and their families whether it’s to get them to the coalition, to MHMR, to veterans’ court will be so vital,” said Paul Bastaich, Denton County veterans service officer.

A collaborative team supported by the Denton County MHMR, Veterans Coalition and Veterans Services Office will recruit and interview case manager candidates and make the hires as a group, said Gary Henderson, the county’s United Way president and CEO.

While a team will supervise and train case workers, United Way will serve as the hiring authority and oversee the grant, he said.

Other grant funding will be used for marketing and outreach, training for volunteers, emergency and health care financial assistance, community case management software, and general operating supplies, materials and travel for the case managers, he said.

“Ultimately, we want to wrap our arms around our veterans who live in Denton County and provide them the assistance they need to be successful, productive citizens of Denton County,” Henderson said.

People interested in serving as volunteers are encouraged to contact United Way, the MHMR Center or Denton County Veterans Service.

Space for a clinic

On Tuesday afternoon, the Denton City Council agreed to continue talks with the Behavioral Health Leadership Team and the VA on providing an interim need: clinic space to expand mental health services until the VA can build a larger clinic in Denton.

Joe Mulroy, president of the team, told city leaders the team talked with the local VA about expanding its mental health services.