The House Select Committee on Mental Health released their widely anticipated committee report last week. This report lays out the process the committee used to carry out Speaker Joe Straus’ charge to conduct a full review of the Texas mental health system, as well as recommendations developed by committee members subsequent to the comprehensive review.

The foundation commends Chairman Four Price and his staff Sandra Talton, Hal Talton and Elizabeth Kerpon for their passion and commitment to conducting meaningful hearings, researching best practices, and their willingness to spend time with those most affected by the committee’s work – peers, families, and advocates. We are grateful to Chairman Price and his staff for the integrity they demonstrated throughout the process. The foundation would also like to thank the select committee members for the time they invested in learning about the current behavioral health system and developing recommendations intended to improve access to appropriate services, address gaps in the current system, and promote effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery.

Hogg Foundation staff remain committed to assisting legislators, legislative staff, and other stakeholders in their efforts to develop recovery oriented systems of supports and services for Texans living with mental health conditions.

The select committee’s report can be found at http://www.house.state.tx.us/_media/pdf/committees/reports/84interim/Mental-Health-Select-Committee-Interim-Report-2016.pdf.