Texas Panhandle Mental Health Mental Retardation
[http://www.tpmhmr.org Texas Panhandle Mental Health Mental Retardation (TPMHMR)], a tax-exempt non-profit organization, began as two different organizations: Texas Panhandle Mental Health Authority and Amarillo State Center. Texas Panhandle Mental Health Authority served adults with chronic mental illness and adolescents with emotional disturbances, and the Amarillo State Center served Panhandle residents diagnosed with mental retardation. These two organizations merged in September of 2000, becoming Texas Panhandle Mental Health Mental Retardation.

Mission Statement

To respond to the diverse needs of all people with mental illness and mental retardation by creating an accessible system of services which supports choices and results in lives of dignity and independence.
Service Area

TPMHMR currently employs approximately 400 people and utilizes approximately 120 volunteers. The TPMHMR service area covers the upper 21 counties of the Texas Panhandle. Regional mental health clinics and workshops for people with mental retardation are located in Amarillo, Clarendon, Dumas, Borger, Hereford, Pampa, and Perryton.

Clientele
Texas Panhandle Mental Health Mental Retardation serves all ages of residents diagnosed with mental illness, mental retardation, or developmental delays. The population served includes persons with the following diagnoses:

• Adults
-Schizophrenia
-Bipolar Disorder
-Major Depressive Disorder
-Mental Retardation
-Aging-related disorders

• Children

-Developmental Delays
-Mental Retardation
-Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
-Major Depressive Disorder
-Bipolar Disorder
-Oppositional Defiant Disorder
-Conduct Disorder
-Psychotic Disorder NOS
-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Services Provided

Texas Panhandle Mental Health Mental Retardation programs and services include, but are not limited to:
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) - services for children from birth to three years of age, identified as having developmental delays. Services include occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy as well as parental education and consultation. Services are provided in Potter County and Randall County.
Children’s Mental Health Services – includes Assessment Services, Service Coordination, Medication Related Services, Skills Training, Family Training, Counseling, In-Home Crisis Intervention, and Respite Services.
Services to At-Risk Youth (STAR) - a family based program providing short term counseling to youth ages seven through seventeen who have been identified being at risk of runaway, truancy, delinquency or family conflict. STAR offices are located in Amarillo, Borger, Clarendon, Dalhart, Hereford, Pampa, and Perryton.
Senior Focus Partial Hospitalization Program- specializing in treatment for senior citizens, and includes treatment for depression, anxiety, panic attacks, loneliness, increased withdrawal and isolation, excessive worry, inability or refusal to comply with medical advice, medication schedules or dietetic limitations. The PHP treatment program is designed to keep persons out of in-patient hospital care, and is committed to helping patients confidently re-integrate back into the community and daily life.
Adult Mental Health Services – includes Assessment Services, Service Coordination, Medication Related Services, Skills Training, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH), Supported Housing, Supported Employment, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), and Family Education.
Telepsychiatry – Allows psychiatrists and intake staff to visit with clients in regional offices and regional jails over audio/visual equipment via a secure internet connection. This provides access to more services more efficiently.
Homeless Services Unit - Providing vital community-based, recovery-focused outreach services to those who are most in need: the homeless of all ages. Assistance provided includes mental health services, substance abuse services, housing services, case management services, benefits assistance and other support services.
Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments (TCOOMMI) - provides services and advocates for the mentally ill who are involved with the criminal justice system. Collaborates with area law enforcement, jails, probation departments and parole offices.
Mental Retardation Services – includes Eligibility Determination, Service Coordination, Medication Related Services, Supported Home Living, In Home Respite, Out of Home Respite, Employment Assistance, Site Based Habilitation, Specialized Therapies, and In-Home Family Support (IHFS)
Summer Adventure Programs – a summer-long day camp for children, teens, and young adults ages 3-21 who have been diagnosed with mental retardation, Downs Syndrome, autism or other similar disabilities. Camps are located in Amarillo, Hereford, Borger, Dumas, and Pampa.
After-School Programs – After school programs are offered to children diagnosed with mental retardation, Downs Syndrome, autism or other similar disabilities. Programs are located in Amarillo, Hereford, Borger, Dumas, and Pampa.

Collaborations


TPMHMR continually works with area community partners and seeks out collaborations offering more efficient treatment options to consumers. Examples of partnerships that have been developed include:
* Regence Health Network: A primary healthcare organization offering care in mental health, physical health and dental care.

* Law Enforcement: Jail Diversion strategies continue and TPMHMR has developed memorandums of understanding with area county law enforcement agencies. This approach aims to identify people with priority population diagnosis and link them to mental health assistance.
* Jail Telepsychiatry – TPMHMR has developed an innovative telepsychiatry program that is in place in Potter and Randall County Jails. This allows for jails to have inmates evaluated and treated by TPMHMR staff and doctors over audio-visual equipment, there by saving partner agencies the cost of transportation and reducing risk, while at the same time increasing service hours.
* Partnerships with area educational institutions, including Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, WTAMU, and Amarillo College, allows for the training of health care professionals while at the same time providing clients with opportunities they might not otherwise have, such as participating in music therapy.
* TPMHMR partners with agencies such as the Amarillo Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse to provide clients with more well-rounded treatment, so that issues such as drug abuse and mental illness can be treated at the same time.
TPMHMR has also developed Community Relationships/Partnerships with the following:
*Clients & Families
*Hospitals
*Schools
*Public Officials
*Probation
*Advocacy Organizations
*Parole
*Social Security and other human service agencies

Mental retardation services are provided in alliance with local community providers. Collaborative efforts enhance the treatment options for the intellectually disabled and their family members. TPMHMR pursues cooperative agreements where the consumer has choices in their treatment options. Collaborations with local service area providers include:
* Educare: provides Group Home clients with day habilitation.
* Advo: Group Home provider in which TPMHMR shares information on services.
* American Habilitation: provides Group Home clients with day habilitation.
* Community Options: Group Home provider in the community where TPMHMR offers respites services for family members and consumers who are their clients.
* Touch of Class: Day programming services are provided to consumers of this program.


 
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