Our History
In February 2005, The Friends of MHMRA of Harris
County was established to enhance and expand the
services and supports provided by and through the
Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris
County (MHMRA). Created under Texas Law in 1964 by
the Harris County Commissioners Court, MHMRA
recently celebrated its 43nd anniversary (November,
2008), as one of the primary public entities charged with
ensuring the provision of an array of services and
supports for tens of thousands of people with serious
mental disabilities each year. These include persons
with severe and persistent mental illness, children with
serious emotional disturbances, and people of all ages
who evidence significant impairments in functioning due
to cognitive and developmental disabilities throughout
Harris County. The priority focus of MHMRA has been
services and supports for those people with mental
disabilities who are medically uninsured (indigent), have
limited insurance benefits, and/or are difficult to treat
due to the severity or complexity of their condition.
In February 2005, The Friends of MHMRA of Harris
County was established to enhance and expand the
services and supports provided by and through the
Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris
County (MHMRA). Created under Texas Law in 1964 by
the Harris County Commissioners Court, MHMRA
recently celebrated its 43nd anniversary (November,
2008), as one of the primary public entities charged with
ensuring the provision of an array of services and
supports for tens of thousands of people with serious
mental disabilities each year. These include persons
with severe and persistent mental illness, children with
serious emotional disturbances, and people of all ages
who evidence significant impairments in functioning due
to cognitive and developmental disabilities throughout
Harris County. The priority focus of MHMRA has been
services and supports for those people with mental
disabilities who are medically uninsured (indigent), have
limited insurance benefits, and/or are difficult to treat
due to the severity or complexity of their condition.
| Board of Trustees Steven B. Schnee, Ph.D. President Robert Corrigan, J.D. Director Jeanne Mayo, J.D. Director Leonel Castillo, MSW Director The Honorable John Lindsay, Director David Feldman, J.D. Director Lily Foster, MA Director George J. Parnham, J.D. Director Susan Major-Mullins, BS Director Yvette Chargois, Director |
About Us
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The MHMRA Board of Trustees established a non-profit
corporation, with 501(c)(3) status, called "Friends of
MHMRA of Harris County," to more adequately address
the needs of these residents of Harris County and their
families. The 78th Texas Legislature severely reduced its
general revenue (GR) for virtually all aspects of Texas
governmental operations; health and human services
were particularly hard hit. The Harris County GR funding
for MHMRA operations was reduced by just over $17
million – over 20% from FY ’03 to FY ’05. The 79th
Session saw some restoration in resources, but the gap
between needs in the community and resources to
address them remains enormous. Sadly, waiting lists
continue to not just exist, but to grow, even for persons
with a significant mental disability -- people who really
should not be "waiting."
Our Goals
The Friends of MHMRA of Harris County is a long-term effort which will work to build a
corpus, the earnings from which will be available each year to expand and enhance
the services for people with mental disabilities throughout Harris County. The
Auction and Entertainment Nights have established the seed operational funding for
the organization.
The Friends of MHMRA of Harris County is a long-term effort which will work to build a
corpus, the earnings from which will be available each year to expand and enhance
the services for people with mental disabilities throughout Harris County. The
Auction and Entertainment Nights have established the seed operational funding for
the organization.
F
| riends of MHMRA of Harris County |