Community Mental Health Needs Assessment Study Kickoff

PRESS RELEASE / APRIL 29, 2019

Sherman/Denison, Texas – The Texoma Behavioral Health Leadership Team (TBHLT) will hold a Kick-Off Meeting for its first Community Mental Health Needs Assessment Study at 10:00am Tuesday, April 30th at the Sherman ISD Administration Building, 2701 Loy Lake Road, Sherman, TX.

The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) has been retained to conduct the multi-month study, and MMHPI representatives will be in attendance at the meeting to describe its scope, methodology, timeframe and the format and results expectations for the final report.

The study is being funded by a matching grant from the Texoma Health Foundation (THF) and funds raised from individual, foundation and corporate donors. Additionally, proceeds from recent Community Behavioral Health Conferences, CBHC 2018 and CBHC 2019, have been donated toward the match program.

TBHLT Chair Zach Flores indicates, “The initiation of this important study represents a significant milestone in the life of the TBHLT, and will define and describe the existing state of mental health conditions, organizations, service delivery, collaborative efforts and solution effectiveness. The final study will serve as the foundation of an action plan the TBHLT will design to improve and enhance the mental health and well-being of our Grayson County and Fannin County communities. We are grateful to the Texoma Health Foundation, the Oliver Dewey Mayor Foundation, the Byrd Livengood Foundation, the CBHC 2018 and 2019 Sponsors and the many individual and corporate donors that make this needs assessment possible. It will make a difference in the lives of our citizens.”

This meeting will also serve as the April Full Board Meeting for the TBHLT.

For questions and further information, please email Gail Utter at gail.utter@wfadvisors.com or call 903.814.8655.

About the Texoma Behavioral Health Leadership Team

Formed in the Summer of 2017, the Texoma Behavioral Health Leadership Team or TBHLT is comprised of approximately 35 community leaders in the fields of law, judiciary, county government, city government, health administration, mental health, veterans wellbeing, private enterprise, law enforcement, secondary education, higher education, special education, private foundation funding, non-profit service, mental health advocacy and consumer/family. Its purpose is to bring together disparate members in conversation and action to improve the delivery of mental health services by chipping away at existing silo delivery and encouraging collaborative efforts that expand mental health service availability and effectiveness. Additionally, the TBHLT seeks to wipe out the stigma of behavioral health issues by talking about them and stressing the widespread and common nature of depression, anxiety and other conditions. Supported from the start by the Texoma Health Foundation and the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, the Texoma Behavioral Health Leadership Team meets monthly and believes the development of collaborative relationships leads to understanding, significant change and impactful improvement in the community’s mental health.