Hogg Foundation for Mental Health

Texas Appleseed receives policy project grant

April 4, 2011

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Appleseed of Austin is one of four Texas recipients of $446,615 in grants awarded by the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health to improve mental health services for children and adults across Texas. This is the third year of the foundation’s grant initiative to improve local, state and federal policies that affect Texas consumers of mental health services.

The Texas Mental Health Code governs crucial aspects of the state’s mental health policies but is severely outdated. The code has been amended piecemeal over the years and the last major overhaul occurred more than 25 years ago.

With the $90,861 grant, Texas Appleseed will convene consumers, family members, law enforcement officers, judges, attorneys, mental health professionals, administrators and other stakeholders to produce a public policy report with recommendations to assist lawmakers in modernizing the code. The project will be led by Dr. Susan Stone, M.D., J.D.

“State law should reflect today’s realities and responsibilities in addressing mental health needs. Texas Appleseed is grateful to Dr. Stone for undertaking this project for us and to the Hogg Foundation for funding a broad-based approach that could result in a much-needed overhaul of the Texas Mental Health Code,” said Appleseed Executive Director Rebecca Lightsey.