8/20/2008 5:22:10 AM
Located in north central Texas, Money Magazine ranked Tarrant County the fifth fastest growing county in the U.S. in 2006. An urban community, the county includes the cities of Fort Worth, the18th largest city in the U.S., and Arlington and 40 other smaller municipalities. Tarrant County is also part of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
In 1999, a tragedy struck the community – a mentally ill man entered a church one evening and shot and killed several members of an area youth group. When the community reflected on what happened, they realized that family and friends recognized this man needed help, but were unable to help him access the necessary services. To improve service delivery, the community established the Mental Health Connection (MHC), a resource center for all county mental health systems. In 2003, community leaders identified the need for improved interagency communications and established an electronic client data sharing pilot program.
A populous community, 1.7 million people live in Tarrant County. The county seat of Fort Worth has a large minority population. One-third (30%) of Fort Worth residents are Hispanic as well as half (50%) of the students in the Fort Worth Independent School District. Tarrant County is more affluent than neighboring Dallas County (county seat: Dallas). The median household income is $48,805 approximately $7,000 above the Texas state median income of $41,600.
Tarrant County's economy has historically been rooted in agriculture and cattle. While this focus on agribusiness remains, the economy is more diversified today. The county now serves as a center for aerospace and defense contractors. Area large employers include D.R. Horton Homes, Radio Shack and AMR Corporation (American Airlines).
The county faces workforce shortage issues and plans on implementing education and training programs to grow the workforce and meet community mental health needs.
MHC has a budget of $200,000. Annual funding is derived from: eight (8) charter members contributing $20,000, 14 agencies that pay between $300 and $500, and over one hundred individuals representing agencies, concerned citizens and family members who pay $30. MHC also secures funding from private foundations and grants.
A Board of Directors governs MHC, but the MHC president oversees daily operations. MHC holds monthly membership meetings which are attended by parents, public and private providers, advocacy groups, school district representatives, city and county public health officials, clergy, corporate leaders, and state and local elected officials.
Goal: To improve access to and efficiency of area mental health services by growing the workforce, enhancing information technology, eliminating disparities in services, and developing early identification and treatment programs.
Plan: Increase communication and elimination of administrative and service duplication by:
Tarrant County has a proven track record for success and collaboration. Building on the Mental Health Connection accomplishments, stakeholders have developed a plan which will further enhance system efficiencies and increase provider and consumer communication. Planned changes will result in seamless treatment across agencies and the elimination of service duplication. Cost savings will be used for additional mental health services.
Achieving the vision of a transformed Texas mental health system will take collaboration, innovation, and hard work. Each of the eight communities will collaborate with state partner agencies (TWG members), community stakeholders and consumers, and one another to craft solutions to their specific workforce and service challenges. On the path to transformation, these community collaboratives will learn lessons they will be able to share with other Texas communities seeking to transform their own mental health systems.
Debbie Fillmore-Keen, Grants Coordinator, Tarrant County
Fort Worth, TX
76096
DJFillmorekeen@tarrantcounty.com
817.884.1736