Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety

Keller began by emphasizing the importance of early intervention, noting that 75% of mental health issues manifest before the age of 25, when brain development is still ongoing. He praised the efforts of various agencies and leaders in recognizing the necessity of addressing severe mental illnesses early to prevent more significant issues later in life.

A focus of Keller’s testimony was the Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN), which provides essential support to overwhelmed pediatricians. While Keller acknowledged the progress made through CPAN, he stressed that it simply represents a baseline and urged further enhancements. He highlighted the Collaborative Care Model as an effective approach that integrates psychiatric resources into primary care, leading to better clinical decisions and earlier identification of issues.

Workforce shortages, particularly in entry-level positions such as psychiatric technicians and community mental health workers, were identified as a significant barrier. Keller commended the funding allocated to Midland College to train and certify these workers and recommended replicating this model in other community colleges across Texas.

Keller also encouraged continued investment in the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) program, which has expanded to cover nearly three-quarters of Texas children. He expressed optimism that this coverage would surpass 90% by 2025, stressing the program’s importance in providing accessible mental health care in partnership with parents.

Additionally, Keller underscored the success of Multisystemic Therapy (MST) in reducing violent crime and improving outcomes for at-risk youth. He presented data showing high retention rates in school and low re-arrest rates among participants. Keller called for the expansion of MST teams and youth crisis outreach teams to address the ongoing need for mental health services, particularly in emergency situations where children are often left without adequate care.

Keller concluded his testimony with several recommendations for the next legislative session, including increased funding for CPAN and collaborative care projects, expanding MST teams, and broadening opportunities to utilize the full mental health workforce in Texas. He emphasized the importance of Medicaid reimbursement for MST to leverage federal funds and further support these initiatives.