Mental Health Policy Academy and Fellows

The Hogg Foundation launched an initiative in 2010 to increase the capacity of individuals and nonprofit organizations in Texas to engage effectively in mental health policy. Texas nonprofit advocacy organizations receive a foundation grant to hire and train a mental health policy fellow for up to two years. The policy fellows must be recent graduates of law, social work, public policy or other related graduate programs.

The Hogg Foundation also is funding a new Mental Health Policy Academy for the mental health policy fellows and their mentors. Public policy skills required for effective advocacy include:

The ability to identify key issues that need to be addressed, analyze options, develop solutions, work with decision makers to realize change, and monitor implementation of policy changes.
The ability to identify opportunities for change according to the policy environment and the current policy agenda.
The ability to identify potential partners and collaborate with individuals and organizations working on the same or similar issues.
The ability to develop effective policy strategies.
The ability to monitor and evaluate system changes resulting from policy initiatives.

The academy conducts training sessions, teleconferences and meetings with experts to develop these skills. The fellows learn about the many ways that public policy can influence systems change, including statutory, regulatory or judicial actions and organizational practice. They also will learn about the many variables that can shape policy, such as economic factors, political influence and personal experiences, as well as informed advocacy, effective leadership, public interest and meaningful data.

2012 news release on policy fellowship grants
2010 news release on policy fellowship grants

Contact

Program Officer Colleen Horton, (512) 471-2988