Reports
HCCC Resources
Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS):http://www.dads.state.tx.us/ : The Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) was created to administer long-term services and supports for people who are aging and who have cognitive and physical disabilities. DADS also licenses and regulates providers of these services, and administers the state's guardianship program.
Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabiitative Services (DARShttp://www.dars.state.tx.us):: DARS provides comprehensive rehabilitation services, independent living services, supported employment, transition planning and a vocational rehabilitation program to help those with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep jobs.Autism Society of Collin County:http://autism-ascc.org/
National Autism Association of North Texas: http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/texas.php : The mission of the National Autism Association is to educate and empower families affected by autism and other neurological disorders, while advocating on behalf of those who cannot fight for their own rights.The Arc of Dallas: http://www.arcdallas.org/ : The Arc of Dallas is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people with intellectual and related developmental disabilities.
My Possibilities: http://www.mypossibilities.org/ : My Possibilities is a non-profit organization for adults with disabilities (Autism, Down Syndrome, Aspergers, Prader-Willi, Head Injuries, etc.). My Possibilities is the first full day, full year program in Collin County for Texans, who have "aged out" of secondary education, where they can build independence and pre-vocational skills in a safe and nurturing environment.United Cerebral Palsy of North Texas:http://www.ucpdallas.org/ : United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) is one of the nation's leading organizations serving and advocating for more than 54 million Americans with disabilities. Many UCP consumers are people with disabilities other than cerebral palsy. Here in north Texas UCP offers services to individuals, families and communities, such as early childhood development and education, community living assistance and support services (CLASS), home and community support (HCS), consumer direct services (CDS), group homes, adult Impact program, and removing limits through technology with our assistive technology programs.
Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas: http://www.downsyndromedallas.org/ : The mission of the Down Syndrome Guild is to provide accurate and current information, resources and support for people with Down syndrome, their families and the community.
Dallas Asperger Network for Information, Support and Help (DANISH): http://www.aspergerinfo.org/
DANISH provides support groups and social skills groups for families and individuals dealing with Asperger Syndrome.
nonPareil Institute: www.npitx.org : nonPareil Institute is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to use the natural talents of many adults with autism in the field of technology. nonPareil will train students in technology, provide opportunities for adults with autism to work in the technology field and eventually offer long-term housing in a campus environment for adults with autism.
Easter Seals North Texas: http://ntx.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=TXNW_homepage : Easter Seals North Texas provides services for children and adults with disabilities and other special needs. Services include audiology services for children and adults, autism services for children, assistive technology, case management, benefits planning, outpatient rehabilitation, personal assistance services, respite care services and workforce development.
Echidnas: http://www.echidnasgroup.org/ : Echidnas is a small nonprofit organization for persons ages 13 - 23 diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. Its goal is to develop social and life skills in order to promote independence and productivity into adulthood.
H1N1 Flu: A Guide for Community and Faith-based Organizations
This document was produced by the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Link to H1N1 Flu: A Guide for Community and Faith-based Organizations
January 11, 2010 - HCCC Tour of Collin County Detention Center
Thanks to the generosity of Sheriff Terry Box and his staff, approximately a dozen HCCC Members and guest toured the Collin County Detention Center. The tour included several aspects of healthcare at the prison facility, including a tour of the infirmary which houses both medically and mentally ill inmates.
HCCC Meeting: January 5, 2010 - Mental Illiness in Collin County Jails
Our January meeting will be a panel discussion about Mental Illness in Collin County jails on January 5th at Collin College-Spring Creek Campus- 2800 E. Spring Creek Parkway in Room C103 from 7-9pm. Please mark your calendars and plan on attending this very informative meeting. Our panel includes:
• Rep. Jerry Madden: District 67 TX House of Representatives, Vice Chair, House Committee on Corrections
• Judge Christopher Oldner: 416th District Court, Administrative Judge, Collin County District Courts
• Asst. Chief Deputy Randy Clark: Collin County Sheriff’s Office
• Dr. Xiaoyan Wu: Contracted Psychiatrist, Collin County Jail
• Janie Metzinger: Mental Health America (11 county area including Collin County)
• Jane O’Brian: Adult Probation, Collin County
HCCC Meeting - September 1, 2009 - “My Friends House”, a branch of CITY House
Our guest speaker was Patsy McGeehon, the Shelter Director of “My Friends House”, a branch of CITY House, both are for children birth to age 17 who are separated/removed from their families usually by Child Protective Services(CPS) for abuse or neglect. Patsy said that finding healthcare for those children who could be categorized as “homeless” wards of the state during the 90 days they may be at the shelter has been difficult but they are currently using a “Physicians for Children” office at Legacy in north Plano. Care for Medicaid eligible kids is through Superior Health Networks which keeps the electronic records for these CPS kids—wherever they may be: in shelter, in foster care, or if returned to their families and monitored. Child mental health service is even rarer. The shelter gets 10% of its funding from United Way, and the rest from donations—from donated land for building to the charity of volunteer hours and $. With approx. 250 removals/year 80% of the kids are from Collin County. In 2008, 203 removed by CPS, but only 40 could be placed in Collin County shelter spaces and 90% of the time siblings are split up. So far in 2009, 185 removals and only 40 could stay in C.C. shelters; 80% had to be placed elsewhere. Patsey said there is a need for teen maternity homes, too.
City House (home setting) was started about 20 years ago by two PISD teachers and support from First Baptist Church, who saw teens carrying their belongings to school in plastic garbage bags (runaways or banished from home in conflict or neglect by parents.) City House business office is located at 1947 Ave. K, Suite 400, but the actual shelter is an old house north of Haggard Park, east of the Courtyard theatre. My Friends House for younger children was “conceived” in 2005, but didn’t open until July 2009 in west Plano. See website www.cityhouse.org . They offer food and shelter, clothing, counseling for the families, boy and girl empowerment classes, transitional boy homes and girl homes for those age 18 to 21 who are working and completing their education.
Thank you Patsy for a very informative evening and thanks to Donna Benning for sharing notes from this event.
HCCC Meeting - August 4, 2009 - Panel on Mental Health in Collin County