Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute Named Administrator of Texas Veterans + Family Alliance Pilot Phase Grant Program
The Texas Veterans + Family Alliance program is aimed at improving
access to mental health care services for Texas veterans and military
families
DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Texas Health and Human Service Commission (HHSC) recently named the
Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) administrator of Texas
Veterans + Family Alliance, a pilot-phase grant program established by
Senate Bill 55 during the 84th legislative session. For
years, Texas has been at the forefront of addressing the mental health
needs of veterans and their families. This year, our state leaders
reaffirmed that commitment to those who honorably served in uniform by
passing SB 55. Senate Bill 55 authorizes and directs the HHSC to
establish a new and innovative grant program for the purpose of
supporting community mental health programs providing services and
treatment to veterans and their families. Along with this legislative
guidance, an allocation of $20 million has been appropriated for the
upcoming biennium (2016-2017).
The grant program begins with a pilot phase where the State of Texas,
through HHSC, will commit up to $1 million in public funds to be matched
in equal or greater amount by private contributors or local governments.
As administrator for the pilot phase of the grant program, MMHPI will
assist HHSC with the design, development, and implementation of the
pilot.
“The fundamental commitment of Texas Veterans + Family Alliance is to
bring communities together to fill the unmet mental health needs of
Texas veterans and military families,” states Sonja Gaines, Associate
Commissioner for Mental Health at HHSC. “This exciting grant program
creates opportunities to engage community providers in developing
innovative approaches to deliver and address unique mental health
service needs across the state.”
Projects funded by the pilot grant program will be selected through a
competitive statewide request for proposal process. The request for
proposals will officially be released later this fall. The objective
will be to award state funding to programs throughout Texas, with
decisions on successful applicants for the pilot phase complete by early
2016.
“We are honored to have been selected as administrator for the pilot
phase of this program,” says Tom Luce, Chief Executive Officer of MMHPI.
“Our vision is that Texas veterans and military families will be able to
access the mental health care services they need close to home. This
exciting new program will help achieve that vision and it is our goal to
provide HHSC with the assistance needed to develop and implement a
successful pilot phase.”
About The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute
The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute is a nonpartisan, nonprofit
organization that supports the implementation of policies and programs
that help Texans obtain effective, efficient mental health care when and
where they need it. The Institute’s vision is for Texas to be the
national leader in treating people with mental health needs. For more
information about the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, please
visit texasstateofmind.org.
About Texas Health and Human Services Commission
The mission of HHSC is to maintain and improve the health and human
services system in Texas and to administer its programs in accordance
with the highest standards of customer service and accountability for
the effective use of funds. HHSC oversees the operations of the health
and human services system, provides administrative oversight of Texas
health and human services programs, and provides direct administration
of some programs. For more information about HHSC, please visit hhsc.state.tx.us.
Contacts
Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute
Kanani Quijano, 972-884-4668
kquijano@texasstateofmind.org
