A healthy community creates opportunities for everyone to share their gifts and talents and make meaningful contributions. In honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, I would like to recognize the incredible work our team is doing to improve the lives of those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in our community. Every day, Integral Care works with children and adults living with IDD to make sure they have the tools they need to thrive. We create opportunities for people to form healthy relationships, live in the community, and lead meaningful lives.
Transparencies March 2022
TRANSPARENCIES
A monthly newsletter from Integral Care
Honoring Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
A Message From Our CEO
In November 2020, we launched Outpatient Biopsychosocial Approach for IDD Services (OBI), alongside four other Local IDD Authorities (LIDDAs). This state-funded pilot program provides outpatient mental health services for people living with both IDD and mental illness, who also have frequent encounters with police, emergency rooms, and/or psychiatric hospitals. Clients participate in an extensive biopsychosocial assessment and person-centered recovery plan to identify needs and goals that will improve their physical and mental health. OBI services include emotional regulation skills training, motivational interviewing, strengthening systems of support, navigating healthcare programs and services, improving physical health, medication monitoring, and complex case management. Most clients are met with weekly, and the client to caseworker ratio is kept intentionally low so that intensive support can be provided. This program is showing very promising results.
- 40 clients served to date, with 14 discharged successfully
- 11 clients experienced a significant improvement in daily functioning due to medication recommendations or monitoring
- 15 clients improved their housing situations
- 7 clients experienced a significant decrease in emergency room or police interactions
- 12 clients connected with essential medical providers
This pilot program was initially planned to run through September 2021 but received funding for another year (through August 2022) after showing encouraging results. Should this pilot program continue to be successful, we are hopeful that the state will fund LIDDAs statewide in the future.
In other news, we’re incredibly grateful to the City of Austin who recently provided funding to expand our respite services for people with IDD, including those experiencing crisis. These services help people stay safely and happily in the community, supports caregivers, and reduces hospitalizations.
To those at Integral Care and across the community who support the needs of people living with IDD, I thank you for your critical, life-changing work. To the rest of the Integral Care team, I thank you for your commitment to reducing stigma and promoting inclusion and accessibility in our community.
David Evans
Chief Executive Officer
Transparencies Archive
Past Transparencies sorted by year
2022
February 2022: Strengthening Our Network of Mental Health Support
January 2022: Looking Ahead in 2022
2021
December 2021: Celebrating Progress & Innovation in 2021
November 2021: Action Steps Toward Preventing and Ending Homelessness
October 2021: Language Access & Racial Equity
September 2021: Treatment & Addiction Psychiatry at Integral Care
August 2021: Returning to School plus the Legislative Wrap-up
July 2021: Creating Lasting Change for BIPOC Mental Health
June 2021: Facts & Resources This Pride Month
May 2021: Mental Health Month
April 2021: How do we help Austinites experiencing homelessness?
March 2021: Growth and Positive Change
February 2021: How Do We Create a Better Future?
January 2021: Looking Ahead to the Legislative Session
2020
December 2020: Supporting Your Mental Health This Winter
November 2020: How do we rebuild health and well-being during a pandemic?
October 2020: With Collaboration Comes Innovation
September 2020: Success Stories of Recovery and Suicide Prevention
August 2020: A Back to School Season Like Never Before
July 2020: Minority Health Disparities & COVID-19
June 2020: Stronger Together
May 2020: Surviving and Thriving During Uncertain Times
April 2020: Persevering During COVID-19
March 2020: Collaborations and Initiatives to Improve Health for the IDD Population
February 2020:Solutions to Health and Health Care Disparities
January 2020: Sucicide Prevention a Local Effort
2019
December 2019: A Year of Thriving Care & Collaboration
November 2019: Teamwork and Collaboration Impact Homelessness in Travis County
October 2019:Making Strides for World Mental Health
September 2019: Taking Steps to Recovery Support
August 2019: Working Together for Child & Youth Mental Health
July 2019: Legislative Wrap-Up – Some Bipartisan Wins for Healthcare
June 2019: Strengthening Access for Veterans and the Entire Military Family
May 2019: Women and Mental Health
April 2019: Legislative Session Status Report
March 2019: Making Opportunities for Recovery More Accessible
February 2019: Recovery is Possible
January 2019: Stronger Outcomes Through Collaboration
December 2018: Looking ahead to the 86th Texas Legislature
November 2018: How Tech is Changing the Face of Mental Health
October 2018: A Few Questions Could Help Save a Life
September 2018: Anyone Can Save a Life
August 2018: A Milestone Moment
July 2018: Equity in Mental Health Care for All
June 2018: Expanding Services for Veterans
2018
May 2018: Your Mental Health Toolkit
April 2018: Time of Terror Calls for Increased Emotional Support
March 2018: Stopping the cycle of incarceration for individuals with mental illness
February 2018: Equity in mental healthcare for everyone
January 2018 : Improving Mental Health Through Partnership & Collaboration
2017
December 2017: Strength Through Community
November 2017 : Healthy Lifestyles Improve Well-Being
October 2017 : National Child Health Day
September 2017 : Strengthening Families and Communities
Highlight: FY23-25 Strategic Plan Update
Every three years, Integral Care creates a Strategic Plan that is built upon our foundational principles and core values. It guides our work to improve the health and well-being of adults and children living with mental illness, substance use disorder and intellectual and developmental disabilities in Travis County. This process includes gathering input from our stakeholders, staff, clients, and collaborators to ensure we are prepared to best serve Travis County and its growing needs.
We are currently developing the FY23-25 Strategic Plan. Last week, our Board of Trustees and Executive Management Team participated in a work session to identify our areas of focus for the coming years. We will launch our new Strategic Plan in September and are excited for what’s to come as we move closer to our vision of Health Living for Everyone.
Highlight:
Highlight: Community Forum: The Rights of People Living with Behavioral Health Needs in Texas
What's New:
Teen Suicide Prevention Videos Win Best of Category
The Kids Are Not Alright
In a recent article about the youth mental health crisis, Dell Medical School talked about how they’re coming together with local partners like Integral Care to address this urgent need. They discussed the impact of our collaboration through the RA1SE program.
At their February meeting, the Integral Care Board of Trustees approved moving to a $20 per hour minimum pay rate for all Integral Care employees. This increase will go into retroactive effect from January 9th, 2022. The new minimum pay rate will adjust pay for all individuals currently earning less than $20 per hour. This is an additional annual agency investment of $3.1 million in our employees.
