East Texas Coalition for Mental Health Recovery

The East Texas Coalition for Mental Health Recovery (ETCMHR) is bringing together 12 mental health organizations and developing a network of consumers, peer specialists, providers and advocates who are trained in recovery and wellness. The activities of the ETCMHR are coordinated by the East Texas Behavioral Health Network (ETBHN) and funded by the Hogg Foundation.

The evaluation, jointly funded by the foundation and ETBHN, is being conducted by Stephen Cooper and Freddie Avant of Stephen F. Austin University. The evaluators are working closely with Stephany Bryan, program officer, and Dr. Michele Guzmán, assistant director of research and evaluation. Focus groups, interviews and surveys will be utilized to gather information from consumers and mental health providers who are part of the coalition. Evaluation goals include capturing the recovery experiences of the consumers providing peer-to-peer services who participated in the first year ETCMHR trainings, as well as assessing the development of the coalition itself.