The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health staff has been quite busy lately. We are proud of our top-notch colleagues who positively represent the foundation throughout the state and nationally as leaders in mental health.

Here is what we’ve been up to lately…

  • Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director, was invited to participate in the academic institution panel of the Code Red Task Force to consider the impact of the Texas Healthcare Transformation and Quality Improvement Program on access to healthcare for the underinsured and uninsured.
  • Dr. Martinez presentedCultural & Linguistic Competency and Leadership Issues” during a Lunch and Learn Grand Rounds webinar for the Texas Department of State Health Services. The presentation informed psychiatrists about cultural and linguistic competency (CLC).
  • Dr. Martinez and Dr. Michele Guzmán, assistant director of research and evaluation, assisted Cindy Carlson, Ph.D, in the creation of the course “Integrated Behavioral Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach.” The course focuses on integrated behavioral health care for underserved children and families. It will be available to The University of Texas at Austin graduate students in Fall 2012.
  • Dr. Frost co-authored “Integrated Primary and Behavioral Health Care in Patient-Centered Medical Homes for Jail Releasees with Mental Illness,” which was published in the April issue of the journal, Criminal Justice and Behavior. Frost co-authored the piece. Former Hogg Graduate Research Assistant Mary Held was the lead author on the article along with Carlie Brown, Dr. Frost, Dr. Scott Hickey and Dr. David Buck.
  • Dr. Frost and Colleen Horton, program officer, testified in front of the Texas Legislature. Frost testified at the Texas House Committee on Corrections hearing and Horton at the Medicaid Reform Waiver Legislative Oversight Committee hearing.
  • Stephany Bryan, program officer and consumer & family liaison, attended the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations National Conference. Bryan presented with Valerie Threlfall of the Center for Effective Philanthropy on “Incorporating Beneficiary Perspectives Into Foundation Decision-Making.”
  • Vicky Coffee-Fletcher, program officer, presented with Stephany Bryan at the Mission Possible Conference in Nacogdoches, Texas on the topic “Am I My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper?” The workshop assisted participants in exploring the opportunities and responsibilities of the faith-based community as it relates to their congregants’ mental health.
  • Tammy Heinz, program officer and consumer & family liaison, presented “Inclusion of People with Mental Health Disabilities in AmeriCorps Programs” at the OneStar Foundation‘s AmeriCorps Texas Grantee Meeting.
  • Rick Ybarra, program officer, presented at the 7th Annual Grant Managers Network Conference in San Antonio. The presentation made to members of grantmaking organizations highlighted streamlining practices undertaken by the foundation to increase efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness.
  • Rick Ybarra presented at “Promoting Integrated Behavioral Health Care: A Meeting of Public and Private Funders,” hosted by Grantmakers in Health in Baltimore, Md. The meeting participants explored potential philanthropic and federal agency collaborations to support the expansion and sustainability of integrated behavioral health and primary care.