1. Application for Community Advisory Committee membership
2. Community Advisory Committees Overview
3. Mental Health Community Advisory Committee
4. Addiction Services Community Advisory Committee
5. Children's Mental Health Community Advisory Committee
6. Mental Retardation Community Advisory Committee

Community Advisory Committees Overview     top

• The MHMRTC Board of Trustees has established four community advisory committees.
• A Board Member is appointed as liaison to each committee and serves as a non-voting member.
• A Staff liaison is appointed to each committee.
• The Board of Trustees attempts to appoint members to the committees to reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of the community and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, age, or disability.
• Committee members may not have any current or potential fiduciary interest in MHMRTC, including such interests held by immediate family members, unless the applicant fully discloses the interest to the Board of Trustees prior to appointment to the Committee.
• Committee members must have residence in the MHMRTC service area or a significant connection with the Tarrant County service area.
• Committee members must have the ability to provide meaningful and objective input in one or more of the following areas:
• Business/financial management
• Advocacy and client needs
• Planning and program development
• Community development
• Legal
• Governmental process
• Leadership
• School District/Educational Representative
• Individuals interested in serving on one of these advisory committees should send a letter of interest and an application to the attention of the appropriate committee staff liaison at MHMRTC, P.O. Box 2603, Fort Worth, TX 76113.

Mental Health Community Advisory Committee   top

Staff liasion: Sonja Gaines, Chief of MH Essential Services

Committee Charge
The Committee advises, recommends to, reviews for, and works with the Board of Trustees to:

• Assess the results of a formal needs assessment
• Identify which MH issues are of the most strategic importance to the community
• Prioritize the MH service needs of the community
• Develop budget strategies to meet the prioritized needs
• Assist in the development of the Local Plan
• Assess progress toward the implementation of the Local Plan
• Consider ethnic and cultural diversity issues related to the Local and Network Plan

Composition of the Committee

• Composed of no less than 9 and no more than 12 voting members
• To be geographically representative
• To have representatives from community-based organizations who have a stake in mental health services
• To have representatives from provider trade associations
• To have other membership from the community
• To have no less than 50% clients and family members
• To include mental health advocacy

Addiction Services Community Advisory Committee   top

Staff liasion: Stevie Hansen, Director of Addiction Services

Committee Charge
The committee advises, recommends, reviews, and works with the Board of Trustees in assessing the future of the service division, including:

• The future need and market for existing addiction services
• The future mission of the Addiction Service Division
• Informing the local community about the services provided by the Division
• The development of resources for the Division

Composition of the Committee

• No fewer than (8) or more than (20) voting members
• Two clients or family members
• Addiction service advocates
• Community members at large

Children's Mental Health Community Advisory Committee     top
Staff liaison: Grace E. White, Chief of Early Childhood Intervention

Committee Charge
The Committee advises, recommends to, reviews for, and works with the Board of Trustees to:

• Assess children's mental health needs and priorities in the community;
• Describe the role of the local authority in addressing those needs and priorities;
• Identify services needed from state hospitals and the Waco Center for Youth;
• Describe the populations to be served;
• Prioritize budget strategies to meet the goals;
• Estimate number of children/families to be served annually;
• Meet at least quarterly;
• Report to the Board quarterly, if desired, on issues related to the needs and priorities of children/families, and the implementation of the local plan and contracts; and
• Participate in the Network Advisory Committee (NAC) when the children's mental health provider network plan and contracting are considered.

Composition of Committee

The committee is composed of no fewer than 18 voting members including representation by the following agencies:

• Texas Department of Protective/Regulatory Services
• Tarrant County Juvenile Probation
• Early Childhood Intervention Services
• Region XI Educational Service Center
• Texas Rehabilitation Commission
• Texas Department of Human Services
• Texas Youth Commission
• MHMR of Tarrant County
• Fort Worth Health Department
• Clients, parents, or family members to comprise 50% of the membership.:
• Advocates may be considered for representation from the following and others:
• Tarrant County Mental Health Association
• Tarrant County Youth Collaboration
• Challenge, Inc.
• Texas Alliance for the Mentally Ill - Child and Adolescent Network
• Federation for Families

Mental Retardation Community Advisory Committee   top
Staff liaison: Mel Hughes, Chief of MR Services

Committee Charge
The Committee advises, recommends to, reviews for, and works with the Board of Trustees to

• Assess the results of a formal needs assessment.
• Identify which issues are of the most strategic importance to persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities in the community.
• Prioritize the service needs of persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities in the community.
• Develop budget strategies to meet the prioritized needs.
• Assist in the development of the Local Plan.
• Assess progress toward the implementation of the Local Plan.
• Consider ethnic and cultural diversity issues related to the Local and Network Plan.

Composition of the Committee

• Composed of no less than 9 and no more than 30 voting members
• To have no less than 50% clients and family members
• To have 1 member and alternate designated by The Arc of Greater Tarrant County
• To have 1 member and alternate designated by Advocacy, Inc
• To have representatives from community-based organizations who have a stake in mental retardation issues and services

Network Advisory Committee     top
Staff liaison: Susan Garnett, Chief Operating Officer

Committee Charge

• Provides guidelines for the impartial review of providers competing for participation in the Network Panel of Providers
• Provides Standards and selection criteria to be used in reviewing applications and proposals from providers
• Establishes methods for reviewing provider performance
• Establishes an unbiased system for punitive actions and sanctions against providers

Composition of the Committee

• Has no less than 5 voting members
• Has core members representing Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Children's issues
• Has at least 50% consumer and family member representation on the voting membership
• Includes, but is not limited to, representation by persons knowledgeable and experienced in:
  • Purchasing and proposal review
  • Legal issues and contracts
  • Budgeting and financial analysis
  • Quality review of services
  • Policy and program development
  • Resource development
  • Community-based services
  • Advocacy and client needs
  • Governmental processes

Application for Consumer Advisory Committee Membership