Mental Health Connection developed as an outgrowth of the legislatively mandated Community Management Team (CMT) which had been in existence since the late 1980’s. In 1999 the CMT became frustrated with the lack of services for children and adolescents and decided to involve other community players in the issue. Cook Children’s Medical Center hosted a full day retreat in October 1999 to further address the problems. The October 1999 retreat was attended by a number of CEOs of local mental health agencies and professional advocacy organizations who became energized and decided to push the work to a higher, more visible level through an ongoing collaborative effort.

This retreat occurred shortly before an armed man entered a local church killing seven youth and adults and injuring numerous others before committing suicide. Subsequent analysis indicated that this man suffered from some form of mental illness and had not received diagnosis or treatment through the existing mental health services system.

Because of this shooting tragedy, Fort Worth Mayor Kenneth Barr began working with community leaders to examine ways in which the shooting incident might have been prevented. As part of his efforts, Mayor Barr asked the newly formed mental health collaboration, which later was named the Mental Health Connection, to create a master plan for improving and enhancing the mental health service delivery system and to expand its focus to include adults as well as children.

Today the Mental Health Connection enjoys active participation from more than 150 members representing public and private provider agencies, health care providers, advocacy organizations, elected officials, educators, the judiciary, criminal justice system, clergy, consumers and their caregivers, and other concerned citizens.