Title II of the 1963 Act, the Community Mental Health Centers Act as amended, furthers the trend toward treating people with mental illness within the community by appropriating federal funds for the construction and staffing of community behavioral health centers.

The Commissioners Court of Harris County created the Harris County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center (MHMRC) effective November 19, 1965 and appointed the first Board of Trustees.

The first budget was developed in September 1966. Until this time,the Board operated through donations. The budget for one half of 1966 was $7,800 with a $300 loan for expenses and rent.

The first services began in August 1968 with the Transitional Treatment House on Bartlett, and in 1969 a behavioral health screening service was added that was the precursor to the Call Center and Crisis Center.

The ’70s saw an expansion of services, joining (now) The Texas Council, a new Board of Trustees, changes to the behavioral health delivery system, a physical move to 4040 Milam, and the establishment of the Mental Health Needs Council, a separate children's division, emergency mental health services and lay Advisory Councils.

The 80’s included the first child beds for crisis hospitalization, a new relationship with Juvenile Probation, the first two homes for those with IDD, a new performance-based contract and priority population requirements, the Harris County Psychiatric Center (HCPC) opened, the Northwest Clinic moved to its current location on Dacoma, Dr. Jan Duker appointed as Executive Director, the building at 2850 Fannin was named for Myrtle Fonteno, and the Crisis Unit opened.

The ’90s saw expanded children’s programming, the establishment of the Furniture Bank, homeless programs, ADAPT, ACT, and New Start. New facilities were built, managed care made its appearance, and Dr. Steve Schnee was named as the new Executive Director.

Highlights since 2000 include participation in the 115 Medicaid Waiver through DSRIP Projects, CARF Accreditation, CCBHC Certification, a new Chief Executive Officer–Wayne Young, the opening of several facilities, included the Respite, Rehabilitation and Recovery Center at 6160, expanded programming, implementation of integrated primary care services, the reopening of a community clinic, and additional and more robust collaborations with community partners.

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NeuroPsychiatric Center opened at 1502 Taub Loop and expanded to a full array of crisis services known as Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Programs (CPEP)

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MHMRA moves to 7011 Southwest Freeway after the Fonteno Building on Fannin suffers major damage during Tropical Storm Allison that cannot be repaired.

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Rosa’s Law enacted in congress which strips the works “mental retardation from federal health and labor policies and replacing with “intellectual disability” and “individual with intellectual disability”. Although the term "mental retardation" has not been removed from the Center, the division is now called Intellectual Disability Services (IDS).

MHMRA recognized by the Houston Business Journal as one of the best places to work in Harris County.

The Center now operates and provides services under four divisions: Administration, Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Programs, Intellectual/ Disability Services, Mental Health Service (adults, children and forensics). Services are provided in twenty-three locations across the county. The Center employs over 2000 employees and is a multi-million dollar entity within the County serving over 50,000 Harris County residents during 2014 with over 1 million individual services provided.