Texas is reaching out to help Uvalde heal

The peaceful community of Uvalde has endured horror these past weeks that has shaken every Texan to the core.

We are left processing the shock and grief brought on by the tragedy at Robb Elementary School. Hearts are broken for the innocent lives taken so senselessly and families suddenly bereft of the joy and laughter of their precious children.

Parents are worried about the basic safety and security of their schools. Understandably, people are angry and baffled at the injustice of a disturbed criminal’s demented final actions causing such devastation. The faces of the grieving families and stunned residents of Uvalde, with whom Cecilia and I have met, will leave deep and lasting scars on our hearts. I pray each day for the innocent souls taken too soon and for the families who must now carry on incomprehensibly without their loved ones.

While we can never bring back those who were lost, we must come together to support the grief-stricken community as it embarks on the long road of healing. To jump-start that process, I immediately mobilized all available resources to Uvalde.

The state disaster declaration allows Texas and local jurisdictions to provide support that is easily accessible and readily available. State agencies have embedded representatives in Uvalde to provide assistance with benefits such as workers’ compensation claims and counseling services for residents.

My public safety office made an initial $5 million investment establishing a permanent Uvalde Together Resiliency Center to serve as a hub for services, such as crisis counseling and behavioral health care for survivors, first responders and the entire community. In partnership with state agencies, regional mental health authorities led by the Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Centers are connecting area residents with mental health services through a 24/7 hotline, which has answered hundreds of calls since late May.

Texans want to help their fellow Texans. They can donate to the Robb School Memorial Fund, established by the First Bank of Uvalde in partnership with our state’s OneStar Foundation, to support victims’ families, teachers and the broader community. Donations provide immediate financial support for those impacted and will go a long way in letting Uvalde know they are not alone as they recover.

As the state of Texas activates its full capabilities to lift up Uvalde, we must ensure such tragedies do not happen again. I’ve directed the Texas District & County Attorneys Association to use the lie-and-try law I signed last session as a new tool to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. The law makes it a state jail felony to illegally purchase a firearm by falsifying information on a background check form.

Also, the Texas School Safety Center and the Texas Education Agency are implementing heightened standards to make our schools safer when students return in August. Additionally, Texas State University’s nationally recognized Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training programs will be provided to school districts across the state.

As for new laws, Texas legislative leaders have formed special committees to examine school safety standards and to develop legislative recommendations on school safety, access to mental health care, social media policies, police training and firearm safety, among other topics. This process empowers the officials who make the law to get right to work addressing all the issues concerning the tragedy in Uvalde.

What is abundantly clear is that mental health is foundational to the security of our schools, public spaces and communities. It is a pervasive issue affecting everyone, whether it’s a struggling family member or a neighbor without a network of care and support. We must prioritize providing the resources needed to help Texans suffering from a mental health challenge. Helping an individual in need will not only give them their life back but will also create stronger, safer communities for everyone.

Moments like this tear at the very fabric of a community. But throughout our history, Texans have risen above challenges and together forged a brighter path forward. It is who we are as a people, uniting in our darkest days to make sure our families, neighbors and communities are able to flourish in the great promise that Texas holds.