Mental Health Connection
of Tarrant County

The next meeting of Mental
Health Connection will be:

Monday, June 10, 2013
8:30 a.m.
The Women's Center
1723 Hemphill
Fort Worth, Texas 76110

Program
Refugee Mental Health
presented by:
Monica Gerber, Catholic Charities
Cathleen Brown, World Relief

Minutes of previous meetings

Newsletters

2013 Committee Resolution

Ten-Year Anniversary Brochure

Community Solutions
Wraparound Outcomes

Quick Links

2012-13 Hand in Hand match information, forms

Strategic Plan

DataLink

DataLink Utilization Charts

Learning Communities

Learning Communities Full Report

Blue Ribbon Committee on
Mental Wellness in the Workplace

         Final Report

         Detailed Final
               Report

         Mental Health 
         Insurance
         Coverage in       
         Tarrant County

              Executive
                Summary
                   

              Full Report

Anti-Stigma Campaign

Hand in Hand

Wraparound

Fort Worth ISD
Family Resource Centers

Kenneth Barr Award

Standards of Care

Grant-Seeking Process

 

 

Click here to learn more about helping children through traumatic experiences .... Next meeting: June 10, 2013 .... Click here to review the evaluation of Hand in Hand's wrapraound Mental Health Connection Launches Trauma Public Awareness Campaign Families often do not realize that childhood traumatic events can result in alarming behaviors years later. They may think that children "just get over" the traumatic experience. Or the adults may not realize that some events can be traumatic to children even if they are not to adults. Families also may not realize that their child's emotional and behavioral problems could be related to traumatic experiences from years earlier. To help parents, caregivers, teachers and others understand the causes and effects of traumatic events on children, Mental Health Connection has kicked off a new public awareness campaign. During May, you will see bus ads, billboards and movie ads that guide families to a new website about trauma in children, www.recognizetrauma.org. There are also brochures, posters and first-responder cards. The website discusses causes and effects of traumatic events in children, as well as ways supportive adults can help build resilience so children can move forward. The website also provides information on Tarrant County agencies that provide trauma-informed therapies. Click here to see the materials developed for this new campaign. Feel free to download the art to help spread the word about the website. Click here to order brochures and posters. Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter See the videos on YouTube Family Resource Centers Review the First 10 Years The Fort Worth ISD Family Resource Centers celebrated their 10th anniversary this year. Click here to see a recap of achievements since the centers opened.   We Need You! The Strategic Plan Platforms are off and running as they look at ways to transform behavioral health care in Tarrant County. We need your help to achieve all of the goals. You can join a committee to help determine the way to make change happen. Or perhaps you can simply consult in an area once or twice, sharing your expertise and guidance. If you would like to help in any way, please contact the platform managers. Let them know how much or how little time you can share. But be a part of the change that is coming. It’s your chance to make a difference. Click here for Platform Manager contact information Click here to review the plan.   Mental Health Connection Learns More about Key Waivers Two presentations at the June Mental Health Connection meeting gave members important information about both the 1115 Waiver and the YES Waiver. To learn more, click on the presentations below. 1115 Waiver YES Waiver TarrantCares.org Receives 7 Million Hits Since Launch Do you or your clients need to find local health or social services? What about information on medications and medical tests? Then TarrantCares.org is the place for you. More than 7 million people have used Tarrant Cares.org since its launch on March 30, 2011, to find the help and resources they needed. At any time, day or night, you and your clients can find information on topics ranging from local health and social services to housing, employment and support groups. A library of more than 30,000 articles on health, parenting and other topics also includes information on medications and medical tests – all written in everyday language. Create your own personal health record that you can share with physicians or anyone you want. Tarrant Cares protects your records with the same security used by banks. Specialized sections within Tarrant Cares offer information specifically related to: Adult and juvenile community corrections Children and families Domestic, sexual and other violence Intellectual and developmental disabilities Mental/behavioral health Prenatal to age 5 Public health and healthy communities Seniors/adults with disabilities Veterans, service members and their families Join the millions of others who have found help on TarrantCares.org by checking it out today. To help tell others know about Tarrant Cares through your agency's newsletter, Facebook page, Web site and more, click here for art and articles that will help.   Hand in Hand Respite Advocacy Committee Releases 2012 List The Hand in Hand Respite Advocacy Committee has released an updated list of organizations that provide respite services for special needs children. If you are aware of any other agency that provides these services, please contact Stephanie Norton.   Bridging the Gap reveals demographics of the future During his presentation at the 2011 Bridging the Gap Symposium, Steve Murdock, Ph.D., drew some gasps as he explained the future look of Tarrant County, Texas and the entire nation. For example, he showed that Texas' population has grown by more than 20 percent since 2000, making us second only to California as the most populous state. Since 2000, the Anglo population in Texas declined in 161 counties and grew in only 91. The Hispanic population, on the other hand, grew in 228 counties and declined in only 22. Texas is not the only place seeing this dramatic shift in demographics. During the same time frame, 2,699 of 3,139 counties in the United States saw an increase in Hispanic population. The largest numbers of Hispanics across Texas and the country are under 18. For more information, click here to review the PowerPoint presentation given by Dr. Murdock at the Symposium.   Hand in Hand Year 3 Evaluation Report A report on Hand in Hand's third year has been issued by the MHMR of Tarrant County Advancement and Research Division. Among other results, the report notes that children served through Hand in Hand have significantly reduced levels of functional impairment, approaching nonclinical levels just six months after intake. Children experienced significant improvements in their total behavioral and emotional strengths from both intake to 6 months and intake to 12 months. In addition, caregiver strain was significantly reduced both from intake to 6 months and intake to 12 months. Click here to read the full report.   Hand in Hand Match Information Hand in Hand has issued new information about reporting match in-kind or cash contributions. Last year, the community had to provide $1 in matching contributions for every $1 spent by Hand in Hand. This year, the cooperative agreement with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration requires $2 in contributions for every $1 spent. Please read the document carefully so you can learn the types of activities and contributions that count toward the match. Different sheets within the Excel document explain the match program and provide the 2012-13 match report form and sign-in sheets. The document also provides the Report Submission Schedule for match contributions. For additional information about Hand in Hand matching contributions, email Lupe Shanklin or call her at 817-569-4518. 2012-13 Match Information

Mental Health Connection Offers Toolkit for Consumer-Run Qualitative Study
System of Care communities that want to conduct their own consumer-run qualitative study can click here for a toolkit to help them get started.