Achieving Successful Systems Enriching Texas (ASSET) Report, December 2013
Texas envisions a future where “All Texas children and youth have access to high qualitymental health care that is family-driven, youth-guided, community-based, culturally-grounded and sustainable.” This vision has set the stage for launching a comprehensive strategic approach to achieving statewide implementation of the system of care framework in Texas. In late 2011, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) received a system of care statewide expansion planning grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The grant, entitled Achieving Successful Systems Enriching Texas (ASSET), was awarded to Texas HHSC in strong partnership with the state’s mental health authority and an academic research and policy institute. The initiative is overseen by a legislatively mandated statewide steering team (ASSET Steering Team – AST), inclusive of family and youth representatives, state child-serving agencies and local system of care communities. This has been a collaborative undertaking involving many dedicated individuals and organizations and a significant commitment of time and hard work. The outcomes reflect the best thinking of many diverse, creative stakeholders including the leadership and direction provided by the youth and families who contributed to this effort. Together, these partnerships have set the stage for the initial implementation of a robust strategic plan and the expansion of system of care within Texas.
In September 2012, upon completing the goals, strategies and action steps for the comprehensive Strategic Plan, SAMHSA approved a request for a no-cost one-year extension of the grant allowing for continued refinement of the strategic plan and opportunities for distribution, marketing and continued support of communities as identified in the original proposal, thereby making the planning a two-year effort.
Appendix: Strategic Plan
The Strategic Plan to Expand Systems of Care for Children and Youth with Serious Mental Health Challenges and their Families charts the course to a future in which all Texas children and youth have access to high quality mental health care that is family driven, youth-guided, community-based, culturally grounded and sustainable.
The Strategic Plan gives voice to the experience and knowledge of a diverse group on stakeholders, each of whom has contributed a unique perspective to the development of the plan and the strategies and actions that will strengthen the systems and supports available to children, youth and families. T
he Plan provides a guide for policy makers, advocates, public child-serving systems, youth, family members and other stakeholders to collaborate toward reaching this shared vision.