88th Legislative Session | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

88th Legislative Session

88th Legislative Header

 

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COMMUNITY EFFORT

  1. Site-based training for TTUHSC School of Medicine Psychiatry residents at Sunrise Canyon Hospital, supported by
    Covenant Health System

OPPORTUNITIES

  1. Expand training opportunities through further investment in residency and clinical sites to grow the mental health
    workforce
  2. Sustain behavioral health programs supported by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding through SB 8
    (87th Legislature) currently administered by the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC)
  3. Increase local capacity for crisis stabilization by expanding funding for StarCare Specialty Health System’s Extended Observation Unit
  4. Expand support for local inpatient psychiatric care by increasing Sunrise Canyon Hospital’s state funded bed-day rate.

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COMMUNITY EFFORT

  1. Campus Alliance for Telehealth Resources (CATR) and Texas Child Health Access through Telemedicine (TCHATT)
    • 150+ school districts enrolled with access for over 280,000 students in the region
    • 1,340+ attendees in virtual trainings hosted by TTUHSC

OPPORTUNITIES

  1. Expand mental health care access through telemedicine utilizing current evidence-based models
  2. Support the funding and development of a TTUHSC Institute for Telehealth
    Technology and Innovation

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COMMUNITY EFFORT

  1. Interdisciplinary workforce development through the Children's Relational Health Center at
    Covenant Children's Hospital
  2. Expansion of mental health crisis diversion services for the Lubbock community through The HOPE Center
  3. Development of regional substance use disorder prevention and treatment program focusing on public health
    through the City of Lubbock Health Department

OPPORTUNITIES

  1. Establishment of funding to sustain ongoing operations of The HOPE Center
  2. Expand support for programs to align systems and improve linage to services across the community
Meadow's Report
88th Legislative Priorities

 

building collaboration

  • Discussions between key leaders from Texas Tech University (TTU), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) and local health care organizations resulted in the creation of a local group championing for change in 0Lubbock and the surrounding community, focusing on the mental health care system.
  • Together, local stakeholders collaborated with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) to conduct a community-wide mental health needs assessment in Lubbock County.

needs assessment

  • In 2019, the Lubbock Area Comprehensive Mental Health Needs Assessment: Final Report and Recommendations (Meadows Report) was released and identified three overarching areas of improvement:
    1. SYSTEM LEVEL – Enhance coordination and continued collaboration across the community with an oversight committee consisting of high-level administrators and elected officials
    2. SPECIAL POPULATIONS – Improve services, support and screening for people with mental illness involved with the criminal justice system and veterans
    3. CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND THEIR FAMILIES – Increase available services and support across the continuum of care from prevention through inpatient care

 

needs assessment

  • The West Texas Mental Health Collaborative (WTxMHC) was formed to plan and implement strategies to increase
    access to high quality and evidence based care.
  • The WTxMHC utilizes issue-specific workgroups to discuss and plan for strategic progress in priority areas identified
    in the Meadows Report. Workgroups include subject matter experts from many sectors across the community.
    Currently, two workgroups focus on:
    1. ACCESS TO CRISIS SERVICES
    2. SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND RECOVERY SUPPORTS

community partners