Agency News

Needs of Houston's homeless with mental illness intensified due to pandemic

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.
 

Transforming Lives: Our Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2019

Our Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report marks the first year of the implementation of our 2019-2021 Strategic Plan: The Harris Center team's road map to empower people with behavioral health and IDD needs to improve their lives through an accessible, integrated and comprehensive recovery oriented system of care.

New Electronic Health Record System promises to improve health and care coordination in Harris County

HOUSTON – Feb. 11, 2020 – The Board of Trustees of The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD approved today a significant step to move forward with the implementation of an Electronic Health Record system (EHR) that will bring improved health outcomes for those with serious mental illness in Harris County. The Harris Center is working with Harris Health System to implement a tailored to fit EHR to support the center’s complex health care operations.

CARF: Mission Accomplished!

As you may know, The Harris Center hosted a site visit from CARF International, a non-profit organization that offers accreditation services and support for health and human services programs, at the end of September. 

The Right Talent, Right Now: The Harris Center and the H.E.A.R.T. Program Provide Summer Internships for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Every October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. This year’s theme is “The Right Talent, Right Now.” As part of this month’s activities, The Harris Center is highlighting our recent summer internship collaboration with the H.E.A.R.T. Program.

For many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), finding jobs out in the “real world” may not always come easy. As part of The Harris Center’s commitment to transform the lives of people with IDD, the agency recently collaborated with the H.E.A.R.T. Program to provide summer internships to individuals with IDD to allow them the opportunity to gain hands-on work experience across our agency’s various programs.