Transforming Mental Health Care in Tarrant County Celebrating
Transforming Mental Health Care in Tarrant County Celebrating Accomplishments of the First 10 Years
Shooting at Wedgewood Baptist Church September 1999 Tragedy becomes catalyst for change
Fort Worth’s leadership asks for help and the mental health provider community responds. Mental Health Connection is formed to: • Study the issues • Make plans • Take action
Mental Health Connection of Tarrant County is a collaboration of public and private agencies working in concert with individuals who need mental health services and their caregivers. The organization works to transform the mental health service delivery system by developing and implementing plans for long-term changes in the system while addressing key issues and providing immediate solutions where possible. VISION: No wrong door to the right mental health resources
Mental Health Connection Members Sponsoring Organizations ($25, 000) • • ACH Child and Family Services City of Fort Worth Cook Children’s Medical Center Fort Worth Independent School District JPS Health Network Lena Pope Home, Inc. Mental Health Mental Retardation of Tarrant County
Mental Health Connection Members Organizational Members ($300 -$10, 000) • • • • • AIDS Outreach Center Alliance for Children Catholic Charities Child Study Center First United Methodist Church, Fort Worth Masonic Home for Children Mental Health Association Millwood Hospital NAMI of Tarrant County Pressley Ridge Safe Haven of Tarrant County Santa Fe Adolescent Services, Inc. Tarrant County Challenge, Inc. Trauma Support Services of North Texas The Parenting Center United Way of Tarrant County The Women’s Center Plus Numerous Individual Members ($30)
Others Who Participate • • • Consumers and their families Physicians and private therapists Elected Officials and Government Agencies Texas Health Resources Baylor All Saints University of Texas at Arlington University of Texas at Austin Southwestern Medical Center University of North Texas Health Science Center Tarrant County College Texas Wesleyan Texas Women’s University • • • • CPS Arlington ISD Keller ISD Crowley ISD DFW Center for Autism Arlington Police Department Fort Worth Police Department Resource Recovery Council Judicial System Corporate Community YWCA YMCA Multi-Cultural Alliance Faith community
Why MHC Works • Shared costs and responsibilities = Cost effective – Member agencies provide financial support – No competition for service dollars – < $200, 000 annual budget for 10 years • Volunteer-driven – Only one full-time staff person – Member agencies provide human resources, meeting space, supplies, equipment, anything that is needed • Outcome-focused = Measurable results • Dynamic, flexible • Forum for communication, networking, problem-solving – Monthly meetings, 2 nd Mondays, 8: 30 a. m. at The Women’s Center • Shared goals/Collective voice
Accomplishments Highlights of the first 10 years
Strategic Plan
Advocacy – City of Fort Worth set the standard • City of Fort Worth Public Health Department awarded $9. 5 million SAMHSA System of Care cooperative agreement. (2002) • Because of successes of Community Solutions and leadership of county officials working with MHC, MHMR Tarrant County was awarded second SAMHSA System of Care cooperative agreement of $8. 3 million (2008) • At behest of MHC, JPS reopens 16 adolescent mental health beds. (2000) • Cook Children’s Physician Network agrees to reimburse its 250+ physicians for autism screening at ages 18 and 24 months. (2009)
Advocacy (continued) • Blue Ribbon Committee, co-chaired by Mayor Mike Moncrief, engages corporate community in discussing MH workforce issues, mental health parity, and mental health in the workplace. (2007) • MHC gains support of HHSC Commissioner Albert Hawkins to pilot a Title IV-E waiver in Tarrant County to pay for MH services for children. (2004) – Relevant state agency failed to support. – Tarrant County is in line to receive a Title IV-E waiver after completion of a current pilot in Bexar and Travis counties
Social Marketing • Public attitudes survey about mental illness (2004) • “Open Mind Open Doors” (2005) – award winning anti-stigma campaign • “Fine Line: Mental Health Mental Illness” (2006) – Photographic/audio exhibit of people with mental illness – Multi-faceted public education campaign – Hosted by FW Museum of Science and History – 75, 000 visitors
Technology • Data. Link (Created through Community Solutions) • Electronic referrals and data exchange • Virtual No Wrong Door • Federated Pilot in Progress Current Users: Arlington Police Department Fort Worth Police Department Santa Fe Youth Services Lena Pope Home Dispute Resolution Services Safe Haven of Tarrant County The Women’s Center Hand in Hand Ruth’s Place (Granbury, TX) Fort Worth ISD Catholic Charities MHMR of Tarrant County The Parenting Center First Baptist Church Burleson
Evidence-Based Practices • Bridging the Gap Annual Symposium • Hosted by TCU • 3 of 5 symposia completed • Created Learning Communities • Formed Implementation Teams for EBP’s: Ø Ø Ø Trauma - TF-CBT Training and Research Addictions - Alcohol Diversion Court in High Schools Cultural Competency – Training for Systemic Change Autism - Early screening and system navigation Internalizing/Externalizing Disorders - CBT training • Research Council/Research Roundtables ØCollaboration with local researchers in universities and medical systems. • Journal Clubs
Cultural Competence • 42 executives, 48 therapists trained in California Brief Multicultural Competency Scale (CBMCS) • ? ? individuals selected to serve as trainers • 80 service providers to be trained in 2010 • MHC agencies have agreed to selfassessments and strategic planning to increase Cultural and Linguistic Competence.
Trauma • Texas DSHS supported implementation of Trauma. Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) “because Tarrant County can deliver”. – 80 children enrolled in nationwide research study conducted by UT Austin – 54 individuals trained in TF-CBT – 39 therapists implemented therapy – Value of training, consultation, evaluation is over $250, 000
Research and Outcomes Community Solutions: ranks in top 25% of most successful SOC programs in nation Provided wraparound services to 350? children age 8 -18? in Fort Worth, Texas MHMR Research Division won national awards for the comprehensive Community Solutions evaluation study (follow with slides of outcomes prepared by Sean)
Leveraging Resources Collaboration Pays Government Grants Private Grants In-Kind/ Redirected Funds $30, 727, 401 3, 270, 000 11, 116, 915 TOTAL $45, 115, 316
For More Information: Patsy Thomas, President Mental Health Connection of Tarrant County Patsy. WThomas@gmail. com www. mentalhealthconnection. org 817 -927 -5200 817 -307 -7001 cell
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