*All videos are Closed Captioned on Youtube*
Eileen is a 24 year-old woman diagnosed with a severe intellectual and developmental disability. Because of her diagnosis, Eileen has had to endure several unique challenges. One challenge in particular has caused Eileen some distress over the years - not being able to control her urination and defecation, having to wear supportive undergarments since she was an infant.
After two years of hard work and dedication with a team member from the Texas Home Living Waiver Program, Eileen is now able to use the restroom on her own. She and her mother are excited about reaching this milestone and continue working towards achieving other goals.
Sometimes it takes small steps to reach big goals. We are proud to have worked with Eileen to accomplish this wonderful milestone.
- Deandra Hines, TxHmL Support Services Team Leader
The Texas Home Living Waiver program provides essential services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live in their family homes or their own homes.
* The name of the client has been altered to safeguard the client’s privacy.
Anaira noted Maritza’s baby seemed happy and well cared for, but during her observations, she became concerned about Martiza when she noticed changes in Martiza’s self-care.
The COVID-19 disaster is having a detrimental impact on the ability of homeless individuals with mental illness to find a safe place to shelter following stabilization and discharge from inpatient crisis psychiatric treatment.
Representative Garnet Coleman proposed utilizing an existing state Healthy Community Collaborations grant to enable three local organizations to provide transition shelter and supporting services for homeless people who have mental illness. The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, UTHealth Harris County Psychiatric Center and Open Door Mission will join forces to open a 24-hour facility with 28 beds.
Savannah was referred to our YES Waiver program in November 2019. At that time, she was engaging in self-harm and was also fighting depression and anxiety.
HOUSTON, October 1, 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the vulnerability of individuals who are homeless and have mental illnesses. It is not only the unhealthy conditions on the streets that make the unsheltered homeless “at-risk” to COVID-19; most suffer from underlying, chronic health conditions. An estimated 15-25% of individuals experiencing homelessness throughout Harris County and the greater Houston area suffer from severe mental health issues making it difficult for city, county and local partners to quickly assist and house them out of harm’s way. Social distancing requirements have also reduced homeless shelter capacity. These extremely acute individuals have a large impact on first responders and hospitals by routinely requiring emergency intervention. These individuals increase the risk of COVID-19 exposure to first responders and the community
What does recovery look like? When you fracture a bone, you get a cast to help it heal. Once the cast is off and you are able to return to normal activities, it is assumed that you are recovered from the fracture. For those living with mental illness, though, recovery is not as simple to define because each person’s journey is unique. The children and adolescents who visit our Southwest Family Resource Center are illustrating their individual stories of recovery in a colorful and visible way by creating recovery posters.
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The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD strives to provide high quality, efficient, and cost effective services so that persons with mental disabilities may live with dignity as fully functioning, participating, and contributing members of our community, regardless of their ability to pay based on a sliding scale rate schedule. Privacy Statement Contact Us