Tag: Legislative
State Hospital Redesign & Inpatient Capacity Expansion: 2017-2023
SUMMARY - Since 2016, the Texas Legislature has invested over $3.6 billion toward developing a modernized state hospital system, informed by data-driven policy guidance provided by the Meadows Institute.
Rural Texas awaits mental health windfall after expanded state investment
This article was published by KXAN on August 20, 2023. AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Across 25,000 square miles of the Texas Panhandle, Nancy Tanner can offer scant help to rural Texans in a worsening crisis. “People…
Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety – HB 1537
SUMMARY - On April 17, Chief Medical Officer Roshni Koli, MD, provided invited testimony before the House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety in support of House Bill 1537. HB 1537, by Representative...
Texas House Committee on Human Services – HB 1571
SUMMARY - On March 28, Chief Clinical Officer Hani Talebi, PhD, provided invited testimony before the House Committee on Human Services in support of HB 1571. HB 1571, by Representative J.M. Lozano, would allow...
Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety – HB 2638
SUMMARY – On March 27, Deputy Director of The Hackett Center Marcy Melvin provided invited testimony before the House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety in support of HB 2638. HB 2638, by...
Senate Health & Human Services Committee – SB 26
SUMMARY - On March 22, Meadows Institute President & CEO Andy Keller, PhD, provided invited testimony before the Senate Health & Human Services Committee in favor of SB 26. SB 26, by Senator Lois...
Meadows Institute President & CEO Testifies on Need for Mental Health & Brain Research Institute of Texas
AUSTIN, Texas – Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute President and CEO Andy Keller, PhD, today gave invited testimony before the Texas House Higher Education Committee on the importance of legislation to create the Mental Health…
Texas House Committee on Higher Education – The Mental Health & Brain Research Institute of Texas
SUMMARY – On March 20, President and CEO Andy Keller, PhD, provided invited testimony before the Texas House Higher Education Committee on the importance of legislation to create the Mental Health and Brain Research...
Texas House Appropriations Committee
SUMMARY - On February 15, President and CEO Andy Keller, PhD, provided invited testimony before the Texas House Appropriations Committee in a hearing on behavioral health funding for the 2024-25 biennium.
Engage & Excel 2022
Highlights from Day 1 of
Engage & Excel 2022
This morning we kicked off Engage & Excel 2022 both virtually and in-person to an enthusiastic audience in Plano, TX. Below are highlights from our morning kickoff and a few of today’s Breakout Sessions—deep dives…
Texas Senate Finance Committee
SUMMARY – On June 28, President and CEO Andy Keller, PhD, provided invited testimony before the Senate Finance Committee as the committee reviewed opportunities for additional mental health investments in advance of the 88th...
Texas Senate Special Committee to Protect All Texans
SUMMARY – On June 22, President and CEO Andy Keller, PhD, provided invited testimony before the Senate Special Committee to Protect All Texans in the wake of the tragic school shooting in Uvalde.
Press Release: Senator Jane Nelson Honored with First Tom Luce Award for Mental Health
AUSTIN – Senator Jane Nelson, whose contributions to better mental health policy, particularly for children, have helped Texas vastly improve its mental health care systems, was named the first recipient of The Tom Luce Award…
Great progress, challenges mark Mental Health Awareness Month 2021
Mental Health Awareness Month is a time when we turn our attention toward the importance of improving mental health care while reducing the stigma associated with it. The mental health needs of people across the…
CEO Andy Keller Testifies on COVID-19 Mental Health Impacts, Recommendations
AUSTIN – Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute President and CEO Andy Keller, PhD, presented invited testimony to the Texas House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Article II, Thursday morning about the significant mental health impacts of…
Here’s how Texas must prepare for long battle with COVID-19 mental health issues
The devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on mental health in our country — from anxiety to depression to suicide — will require a robust response from federal, state and local officials. As the sharp…
Texas legislature should put mental health funding first during pandemic
When the Texas Legislature convenes in January, there will be no shortage of coronavirus-related issues demanding action, from the many hours of lost instructional time for our students to a surge in Texans who have…
Texas Veterans + Family Alliance
SUMMARY - Texas Veterans + Family Alliance (TV+FA) is an innovative grant program through which local communities can develop solutions and programs to best serve the mental health needs of our veterans and their...
MMHPI Statement on Leadership’s Preservation of Behavioral Health Funding Amidst Budget Reductions
Today Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) President and CEO Andy Keller issued the following statement regarding the preservation of behavioral health funding levels amidst agency budget reductions: “Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and Speaker…
Texas better positioned to support children’s mental health
The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and The Hackett Center for Mental Health are working with providers, advocates, and state leaders who remain focused on the well-being of Texas children, despite the pandemic. Well in…