What is Hand in Hand?
Hand in Hand is an $8.3 million federally funded six-year cooperative agreement with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program is designed to support the growth of a system that will provide seamless care for the behavioral and emotional needs of children age birth through 6. It is administered by MHMR of Tarrant County in partnership with Mental Health Connection. Hand in Hand received its initial funding in September 2008, and will continue through September 2014.

Hand in Hand is:

1. Child Centered
2. Family Driven
3. Strengths Based
4. Community Based
5. Culturally Competent

What area does it cover?
The target area for the grant includes Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker and Tarrant Counties outside of Fort Worth. 

What do the funds cover?
The funds support the growth of Mental Health Connection as a System of Care throughout the five-county area. The cooperative agreement also includes a wraparound program for 370 children ages birth through 6. Wraparound provides families with community-based support to help them manage their children’s emotional and behavioral issues while working with multiple agencies.

The funding will also support the enhancement of community systems of mental health care throughout the region.

How Will Hand in Hand help families?
Families who have children with emotional and behavioral issues will receive:

• Guidance through medical systems, social services and school systems
• Mentoring
• Assistance with referrals to community programs and services
• Support from families who have had similar experiences
• Networking activities, including family support groups

For a brochure with more information about Hand in Hand for providers, click here.

For a brochure designed to help families understand Hand in Hand and wraparound, click here.

Who is eligible for services?
All children from birth through age 6 who live in one of the five counties (excluding the City of Fort Worth) and are at imminent risk of a mental health diagnosis are eligible for wraparound services provided by Hand in Hand. Children up to age 5 will be screened with the ASQ-SE, a tool also used by Early Childhood Intervention (ECI). For a flyer to give families who might qualify for Hand in Hand, click here. To arrange for an assessment, call 817-569-5720 or email Stephanie Norton.

How do we make referral to wraparound?
Anyone can refer a child for wraparound in one of three ways:

• DataLink, the Mental Health Connection client information and referral system (for more information, click here)
• Fax the referral form to 817-569-5734
• Call Stephanie Norton at 817-569-5729

Are there other ways to help?

As a cooperative agreement, Hand in Hand is committed to matching the federal dollars with local in-kind contributions. If you or your agency can provide any in-kind services, ranging from meeting space to staff support or anything in between, please let Hand in Hand know by calling 817-569-5720.

In addition, Hand in Hand will issue requests for proposals during each of the next two years, seeking agencies willing to provide wraparound facilitators. The initial round was completed in July 2009, with five facilitators beginning on September 1. During each of the next two years, Hand in Hand will add more children to wraparound, and will need additional facilitators in each county. RFPs for the third year of the cooperative agreement will be issued in May or June, 2010.

For more information, call the main number for Hand in Hand: 817-569-5720.