Texas. Dept. of Mental Health and Mental Retardation

The Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MHMR) was established in 1969 by the 59th Legislature (House Bill 3). It replaced the Board for Texas State Hospitals and Special Schools. The department is governed by the Texas Board for Mental Health and Mental Retardation, a nine-member board appointed by the governor with Senate approval, to six-year overlapping terms. The board chair is appointed by the governor. Administration of the department is through the Commissioner of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, appointed by the board. The commissioner appoints Deputy Commissioners for Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Community Services. These individuals administer the programs and facilities in their respective fields.

From the guide to the Monthly population census reports, 1965-1972, (Repository Unknown)

The Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (TDMHMR) was created in 1965 (House Bill 3, 59th Legislature, Regular Session), to conserve the mental health of Texas citizens and to help mentally retarded citizens to achieve their full potential. It replaced the Board for Texas State Hospitals and Special Schools, which had been created in 1949 (House Bill 1, 51st Legislature, Regular Session). The governing body of the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation was the nine-member Texas Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate for overlapping six-year terms. Members represented the general public, but (beginning in 1995) were required to include at least one consumer (or family member of a consumer) of mental health/mental retardation services. The governor appointed the chair. Administration of the Department was through the Commissioner of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, appointed by the board. The Commissioner appointed an assistant commissioner, a medical director, a human resources director, a managed care administration director, a state operations director, a financial services director, and directors of each of the state facilities.

The Mental Health Services Division (reorganized in 1995 and renamed the Managed Care Division) operated seven state hospitals providing general psychiatric services to patients within their geographic regions (located in Austin, Big Spring, Kerrville, Rusk, San Antonio, Terrell, and Vernon-Wichita Falls); and a Waco Center for emotionally disturbed youth.

The Mental Retardation Services Division (reorganized in 1995 and renamed the State Operations Division) operated eleven state schools (in Abilene, Austin, Brenham, Corpus Christi, Denton, Lubbock, Lufkin, Mexia, Richmond, San Angelo, and San Antonio) and between two and three state centers (in Amarillo, Beaumont, and Laredo up to 1999; in El Paso and Harlingen in 2001), which provide short-term and long-term residential care, education, training, health care, and rehabilitation services.

Community-based mental health and mental retardation services were provided by state-operated community health services, community organizations, and state centers, and also by 36 community MHMR centers under contract with the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. Every Texas county has a mental health authority (MHA), and the Department was required to ensure that each provides the following community-based mental health services: crisis stabilization, emergency screening/referral, a plan of services for each individual based on multidisciplinary assessments, medication services, case management, family support programs, and psychosocial rehabilitation programs. Every Texas county also has a mental retardation authority (MRA), and the Department was required to ensure that each provides the following community-based mental retardation services: in-home support, respite care, family services, case management, and an array of vocational and employment programs. The Department's ultimate goal was to transfer all state-operated community MHMR services to local operation and control by the year 2005.

A number of changes in the 1990s affected MHMR responsibilities. In 1991, the Genetic Screening and Counseling Services program was transferred to the Department of Health, and the newly created Health and Human Services Commission was designated the single state agency for Medicaid. In 1993, inpatient single-diagnosis substance-abuse treatment was transferred from the state hospitals to the Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Also in 1993, the duty of licensing private psychiatric hospitals and of investigating complaints of abuse or neglect and clients' rights violations was transferred to other agencies, except that the Department of MHMR continued to establish standards for the private psychiatric industry. In 1995, the Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF-MR) program was transferred to the Texas Department of Human Services. In 1997 several state hospitals were added and several state hospitals/state schools were eliminated.

House Bill 2292 (78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003) merged twelve state health and human services agencies into five, officially abolishing the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (effective September 1, 2004) and creating the new Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) and the new Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

The new Texas Department of State Health Services took over mental health and state hospital operations formerly under the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. (In addition it assumed the duties of the Texas Department of Health, the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and the Texas Health Care Information Council.) The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Division of DSHS is divided into two sections: the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Section, and the Hospitals Section. The governing body is the DSHS Council, composed of nine members of the public appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the state senate. These nine members, representing all geographic areas of the state and reflecting the ethnic diversity of the state, must have demonstrated an interest in and knowledge of problems and available services related to public health, mental health, or substance abuse. They serve staggered six-year terms.

The new Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services took over mental retardation services and running of state schools for the mentally retarded, formerly under the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. (In addition, it includes community care and nursing home services formerly run by the Texas Department of Human Services, as well as aging services formerly run by the Texas Department on Aging.) The governing body is the Aging and Disability Services Council, composed of nine members of the public appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the state senate. These nine members, representing all geographic areas of the state and reflecting the ethnic diversity of the state, must have demonstrated an interest in and knowledge of issues and available services related to the aging and persons with developmental disabilities or mental retardation. They serve staggered six-year terms.

From the guide to the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board minutes and agenda, 1965-1984, 1986-1987, 1989-2004, (Texas State Archives)

The Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MHMR) was established in 1969, by the 59th Legislature, House Bill 3. It replaced the Board for Texas State Hospitals and Special Schools. The department is governed by the Texas Board of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, a nine-member board appointed by the Governor with Senate approval, to six-year overlapping terms. The Board chair is appointed by the Governor. Administration of the Department is through the Commissioner of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, appointed by the Board. The Commissioner appoints Deputy Commissioners for Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Community Services. These individuals administer the programs and facilities in their respective fields.

The Department emphasizes continuity of care for the mentally retarded and mentally ill, while deemphasizing institutionalization. It operates facilities providing vocational training and evaluation, counseling, day programs, recreation programs, experimentation with treatment and training methods, outpatient care, and traditional resident care. These services are administered through several divisions. The Mental Health Services Division operates state hospitals and outreach programs. The Mental Retardation Services Division operates MHMR centers, rehabilitation centers, and special schools, which also offer outreach services. The Community Services Division operates state centers for human development, and oversees community MHMR centers.

From the guide to the Records, 1967-1983, (Repository Unknown)

The Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation was created to conserve the mental health of Texas citizens and to help mentally retarded citizens to achieve their full potential. Created in 1965 (House Bill 3, Texas 59th Legislature, Regular Session), it replaced the Board for Texas State Hospitals and Special Schools, which had been created in 1949 (House Bill 1, 51st Legislature, Regular Session). The governing body of the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MHMR) was the nine-member Texas Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate for overlapping six-year terms. Members represented the general public, but (beginning in 1995) were required to include at least one consumer (or family member of a consumer) of mental health/mental retardation services. The governor appointed the chair. Administration of the Department was through the Commissioner of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, appointed by the board. The Commissioner appointed an assistant commissioner, a medical director, a human resources director, a managed care administration director, a state operations director, a financial services director, and directors of each of the state facilities.

The Mental Health Services Division (reorganized in 1995 and renamed the Managed Care Division) operated seven state hospitals providing general psychiatric services to patients within their geographic regions (located in Austin, Big Spring, Kerrville, Rusk, San Antonio, Terrell, and Vernon-Wichita Falls); and a Waco Center for emotionally disturbed youth.

The Mental Retardation Services Division (reorganized in 1995 and renamed the State Operations Division) operated eleven state schools (in Abilene, Austin, Brenham, Corpus Christi, Denton, Lubbock, Lufkin, Mexia, Richmond, San Angelo, and San Antonio) and between two and three state centers (in Amarillo, Beaumont, and Laredo up to 1999; in El Paso and Harlingen in 2001), which provided short-term and long-term residential care, education, training, health care, and rehabilitation services.

Community-based mental health and mental retardation services were provided by state-operated community health services, community organizations, and state centers, and also by 36 community MHMR centers under contract with the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. Every Texas county has a mental health authority (MHA), and the Department was required to ensure that each provided the following community-based mental health services: crisis stabilization, emergency screening/referral, a plan of services for each individual based on multidisciplinary assessments, medication services, case management, family support programs, and psychosocial rehabilitation programs. Every Texas county also has a mental retardation authority (MRA), and the Department was required to ensure that each provided the following community-based mental retardation services: in-home support, respite care, family services, case management, and an array of vocational and employment programs. The Department's ultimate goal was to transfer all state-operated community MHMR services to local operation and control by the year 2005.

A number of changes in the 1990s affected MHMR responsibilities. In 1991, the Genetic Screening and Counseling Services program was transferred to the Department of Health, and the newly created Health and Human Services Commission was designated the single state agency for Medicaid. In 1993, inpatient single-diagnosis substance-abuse treatment was transferred from the state hospitals to the Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Also in 1993, the duty of licensing private psychiatric hospitals and of investigating complaints of abuse or neglect and clients' rights violations was transferred to other agencies, except that MHMR continued to establish standards for the private psychiatric industry. In 1995, the Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF-MR) program was transferred to the Texas Department of Human Services. In 1997 several state hospitals were added and several state hospitals/state schools were eliminated.

House Bill 2292 (78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003) merged twelve state health and human services agencies into five, officially abolishing the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (effective September 1, 2004) and creating the new Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) and the new Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

The new Texas Department of State Health Services took over mental health and state hospital operations formerly under the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. (In addition it assumed the duties of the Texas Department of Health, the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and the Texas Health Care Information Council.) The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Division of DSHS is divided into two sections: the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Section, and the Hospitals Section. The governing body is the DSHS Council, composed of nine members of the public appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. These nine members, representing all geographic areas of the state and reflecting the ethnic diversity of the state, "must have demonstrated an interest in and knowledge of problems and available services related to public health, mental health, or substance abuse." They serve staggered six-year terms.

The new Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services took over mental retardation services and running of state schools for the mentally retarded, formerly under the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. (In addition, it includes community care and nursing home services formerly run by the Texas Department of Human Services, as well as aging services formerly run by the Texas Department on Aging.) The governing body is the Aging and Disability Services Council, composed of nine members of the public appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. These nine members, representing all geographic areas of the state and reflecting the ethnic diversity of the state, "must have demonstrated an interest in and knowledge of issues and available services related to the aging and persons with developmental disabilities or mental retardation." They serve staggered six-year terms.

(Sources include: Guide to Texas State Agencies, varying eds., agency statutes, and the records themselves.)

From the guide to the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Community Services Division executive director memos, 1975-1978, (Texas State Archives)

The Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MHMR) was established in 1969, by the 59th Legislature, House Bill 3. It replaced the Board for Texas State Hospitals and Special Schools. The department is governed by the Texas Board of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, a nine-member board appointed by the Governor with Senate approval, to six-year overlapping terms. The Board chair is appointed by the Governor. Administration of the Department is through the Commissioner of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, appointed by the Board. The Commissioner appoints Deputy Commissioners for Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Community Services. These individuals administer the programs and facilities in their respective fields.

The Department emphasizes continuity of care for the mentally retarded and mentally ill while deemphasizing institutionalization. It operates facilities providing vocational training and evaluation, counseling, day programs, recreation programs, experimentation with treatment and training methods, outpatient care, and traditional resident care. These services are administered through several divisions. The Mental Health Services Division operates state hospitals and outreach programs. The Mental Retardation Services Division which operates MHMR centers, rehabilitation centers, and special schools, also offers outreach services. The Community Services Division operates state centers for human development, and oversees community MHMR centers.

From the guide to the Records, 1967-1983, (Repository Unknown)