Transparencies May 2021 - Integral Care

May 2021: Mental Health Month

A Message From Our CEO

May is Mental Health Month, an opportunity to learn about the importance of good mental health. Our mental health deserves attention every day – in good times and bad. This past year has challenged our mental health on so many levels. It’s essential to our health and well-being that everyone has access to mental health care and the support they need. Integral Care, NAMI Central Texas, and others have put together some helpful resources for the community.

Mental Health Month Toolkit
Integral Care and NAMI Central Texas created a toolkit for the community designed to support your mental health all year long. Topics include Therapy 101, How to Start a Conversation, Recommended Podcasts and Instagram Accounts, Hacks to Calm Emotions, Gratitude Cards and much more.
Depressed Cake Shop
Bakeries and restaurants across Central Texas will be offering Depressed Cake Shop goodies to inspire our community to talk about mental health.
Children’s Mental Health Awareness
On Monday, May 3^rd, the Texas System of Care and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission hosted Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. This year’s theme was Power in Numbers. Check out their website to watch speaker videos and testimonials, and to access helpful resources.
Bedlam: Film Screening and Panel
On Saturday, May 15^th from 2-3:30pm, NAMI Central Texas presents Bedlam, a documentary that takes viewers on an intimate journey into America’s mental health crisis. A virtual panel will discuss the challenges and progress of mental health treatment and care in Central Texas, specifically in the criminal justice system.
Foro Comunitario Virtual: Hablemos de la salud Mental /Virtual Community Forum: Let’s Talk About Mental Health
On Wednesday, May 19^th from 12-1pm, Integral Care and NAMI Central Texas co-present a virtual all-Spanish Community Forum focused on mental health in the LatinX community. The panel includes child, family, and adult counselors from Integral Care as well as the Peer Program Coordinator from NAMI Central Texas. Please share with your networks. A description of the forum in Spanish is below.
- Hablemos de la salud mental
  Su salud mental es tan importante como su salud física. El miércoles, 19 de mayo a las 12 del mediodía, acompañe a Integral Care y NAMI Central Texas para un foro comunitario virtual en español donde hablaremos de la salud mental en la comunidad latina. Nuestro grupo de expertos hablará de lo que está pasando actualmente en nuestra comunidad y qué puede hacer si usted o algún ser querido necesita apoyo emocional. Otros temas incluyen cómo cuidarse a sí mismo y a su familia, cómo encontrar un consejero que hable su idioma y comparta su cultura, así como recursos sobre salud mental para adultos, niños y sus familias. El grupo incluye consejeros familiares, para niños y adultos, así como una persona que padece de depresión y ansiedad. Habrá oportunidad para que los participantes hagan preguntas, ya sea durante el foro o por anticipado.
  
  ¡Inscríbase hoy!
Sound Mind: Mental Health Music Festival
On Thursday, May 20^th from 8-10pm, NAMI Central Texas partners with Sound Mind to present the Sound Mind Mental Health Music Festival. Artists include All Time Low, Fitz and the Tantrums, Charlotte Lawrence, Lovelytheband, and more.
Speak Up! 2021
On Wednesday, May 26^th from 7-9pm, NAMI Central Texas presents their keynote event featuring writer, speaker, activist, commentator, columnist, attorney and award-winning author Melody Moezzi. She’ll share her struggles and successes since her Bipolar Disorder diagnosis and finding her voice as a mental health advocate.

I hope these tools and events support your mental health and help you build resilience as we continue to navigate a new normal. Please remember that Integral Care provides immediate emotional support 24/7. Call us anytime – day or night – at 512-472-HELP (4357). Press option 1, then 1.

David Evans
Chief Executive Officer

HIGHLIGHTS

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is also Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It is an opportunity to recognize the diversity, contributions, and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans (AAPI) to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. When it comes to mental health, studies show that Asian Americans may be more impacted than most when it comes to mental health stigma. Only 8.6% of Asian Americans sought mental health services and resources compared to 18% of the general U.S. population. In addition, AAPI adults are three times less likely than white adults to seek support for unmet mental health needs (SAMHSA). Barriers to access can include experiences of intergenerational trauma, cultural and spiritual factors, the model-minority myth, language access and more.

Integral Care provides person-centered, trauma-informed care in multiple languages including Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Japanese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Korean, Tagalog, and Thai. To achieve our vision of Healthy Living for Everyone, we believe all people must be able to live with dignity and without fear. Integral Care stands with the Asian American and Pacific Islander American community now and in the future to support their health and well-being.

Travis County Plan for Children’s Mental Health and Substance Misuse Released

Local organizations, collaborating as Kids Living Well, developed the Travis County Plan for Children’s Mental Health and Substance Misuse. This five-year plan sets a direction for our community to improve the health and well-being of children and youth in Travis County. The plan identifies community priorities across four goal areas: Wellness and Resilience, Early & Effective Intervention, Coordinated Crisis Services, System Improvements. As our community emerges from the disruption, stress and pain of the past year, many children and youth are experiencing an increased need for mental health and substance use services. There is no better time for organizations to work together to respond to this need.

David Evans Honored by University of Houston

CEO David Evans won a 2020 Friend of Education Award from the University of Houston for his collaboration on the Taking Texas Tobacco Free program. The partnership between Integral Care and the University of Houston provides research-based trainings and education to help reduce tobacco use and cancer among vulnerable populations. His nomination touted Evans as “an unwavering advocate for individuals with behavioral needs across the state and has contributed significantly to the eradication of tobacco health disparities and the elevation of health and wellness through his partnerships and support” and recognized the efforts of Integral Care’s entire Taking Texas Tobacco Free team.

What’s New at Integral Care

Staff across the agency have been representing Integral Care on the national level. At the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s (formerly National Council for Behavioral Health) annual conference, staff presented on using population health data and stories to demonstrate the impact of the CCBHC (Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic) model, integrating tobacco treatment services into emergency and disaster responses, and school-based counseling. Staff also presented a suicide prevention session at the American Association of Suicidology Conference.
Throughout a stressful school year, Integral Care has continued to provide school-based services to support students’ health and well-being. With the last day of class around the corner, we’re proud to announce the return of our summer programs, which offer continuation of care for students during breaks from school. These programs help children and youth build life skills, get outdoors and be active, and explore their community with their peers – all of which contribute to improved mental health. You can support our summer programs for kids by making a gift. Your donation will help cover expenses for field trips, from mini-golf to caverns and swimming pools!
HHSC awarded Integral Care $680,100 over 18 months to increase the capacity of Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) team. This will help the team address client needs and barriers presented by COVID-19. Austin Public Health awarded Integral Care $229,925 to launch Bridge to Recovery, which provides access to a comprehensive substance misuse service continuum of care. Through this program, clients will be stabilized, screened, and referred to ongoing care such as outpatient detox services, residential treatment services, and outpatient treatment.

TRANSPARENCIES

May 2021: Mental Health Month

A Message From Our CEO

¡Inscríbase hoy!

HIGHLIGHTS

What’s New at Integral Care

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