Hogg Foundation for Mental Health

Hogg Foundation Awards $326,436 in Grants to Train Mental Health Policy Fellows in Texas

June 12, 2012

AUSTIN, Texas — Five recent graduates of law, social work, public policy or other graduate programs will receive intensive training, education and experience in mental health advocacy and policy work through the Hogg Mental Health Policy Fellow Grants project.

Five nonprofit advocacy groups — four in Austin and one in El Paso — received a total of $326,436 in foundation grants to hire an in-house fellow. The fellowships are one year long with the option for a one-year extension.

Each fellow will be provided with an experienced mentor. Both the fellows and the mentors will participate in the Hogg Mental Health Policy Academy. The academy, which is administered by Texans Care for Children, provides training and support for the fellows, their mentors and others involved in advocacy work in Texas.

The purpose of the grant program is to build individual and organizational capacity for engaging in mental health policy initiatives.

“The fellows trained through this year’s initiative will help meet the demand for informed advocates for better mental health policy in the state of Texas. Their time in this fellowship program will provide them with the skills necessary to navigate the complex system of mental health policy,” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director of the Hogg Foundation.

Recipients of the fellowship grants are:

Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe (El Paso)
Easter Seals Central Texas (Austin)
NAMI Texas (Austin)
Texans Care for Children (Austin)
Texas Appleseed (Austin)

Contact the grantees directly for information on these fellowship positions.

The Hogg Foundation launched the Mental Health Policy Academy and Fellows initiative in 2010.

The Hogg Foundation advances recovery and wellness in Texas by supporting mental health services, policy analysis, research and public education. The foundation was created in 1940 by the children of former Texas Gov. James S. Hogg and is part of the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin.