713-970-7000

Admission criteria includes:

• Uninsured adult (age 18 or older) resident of Harris County
• Guest is medically and physically stable
• Guest freely chooses Peer Respite participation
• Guest has a behavioral health diagnosis and or perceives s/he is experiencing intensifying stress
• Guest has capacity to make a decision to enter the Peer Respite
• Guests is willing to create a recovery, wellness and relapse prevention plan
• Guest is willing to observe guest agreement and to engage in interventions with staff
• Guest is willing to take responsibility for personal self-care and hygiene
• Guest has transition location arranged for discharge

Exclusionary criteria based on guest report or written information provided by guest:

• Guest has a primary diagnosis of severe or profound intellectual and developmental disability
• Guest requires supervision to take prescribed medication
• Guest is medically fragile requiring a level of care that might be appropriate for an assisted living, nursing care or medical facility            
• Active suicidal thoughts, plans or gestures within the week prior to admission, or significant history of suicide attempts or gestures
• Significant recent or repeated history of aggressive or acting out behavior
• Significant substance abuse, intoxication or dependence, requiring medical withdrawal or that poses a severe immediate threat to the guest or have a significant adverse impact on other guests.

Walk-ins are accepted Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Overview

The Harris Center offers a full array of psychiatric and pharmacological management services. Our psychiatrists are medical doctors who are experts in behavioral health, and they specialize in diagnosing and treating people experiencing behavioral illnesses. Psychiatrists have a deep understanding of the relationship between physical and behavioral health and will work with your other providers to maximize your person-centered treatment. Our providers can assist you with conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and much more. 

In partnership with other care team members, the psychiatric team provides care across a wide range of settings and modalities within the Harris Center. Crisis, residential, forensic, and outpatient treatment are available depending on the needs of our clients and these services can be provided face-to-face or through telehealth while in one of our locations or in your home.

Overview

Psychosocial and Rehabilitation Services are social, educational, vocational, behavioral, and cognitive interventions that enhance a person’s ability to meet their life goals and overcome barriers.   Utilizing a person-centered approach to assess needs during the recovery planning process, staff work to empower a sense of wellbeing and encourage the use of functional skills to maintain independent living within a person’s community of choice.  Skills training is employed for the person to acquire and/or improve the needed skills that support their greatest level of independence.  Integral to this approach is defining a person by their potential versus the limits of an illness or symptoms while also respecting their readiness to change.  As a result, the quality and meaningfulness of life for persons served may be enhanced.  

Ultimately, Psychosocial and Rehabilitation Services are a part of wellness planning, managed by a care team. These services include targeted interventions around symptom management, health and medical care, housing, living skills, social relationships, communication, vocational, educational, financial, and community involvement.

Overview

The Harris Center provides comprehensive substance use recovery services to patients with co-occurring disorders. This approach to treatment addresses both psychiatric and substance use disorders to promote behavioral health stabilization. Services include screening, assessments, routine case management and basic skills training for patients with a co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorder.

Eligibility

Substance use recovery services are available for adults (males and female). Specialized services are available for adult pregnant women and women with dependent children.

What to Expect

A co-occurring disorder refers to the existence of both a behavioral illness and a substance use disorder. In the United States, approximately 9.2 million adults have a co-occurring disorder. (SAMHSA, 2021).

Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors (LCDC’s) at The Harris Center are trained and licensed to provide both individual and group therapy and to provide services in each of our behavioral health outpatient clinics.

Substance Use Recovery Services are available Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 5:00pm. Additional groups are offered in the evenings and on Saturdays.

This is a licensed 8-bed residential detox unit for individuals who are homeless and are addressing issues with substance use. There is a projected length of stay of 5-7 days. This is a voluntary program.

Eligibility is for adults only and last use must be within 72 hours to qualify for detox.

Referrals are accepted from substance use service agencies, hospitals, community partners, internal Harris Center providers and through the Outreach Screening Assessment and Referral (OSAR) screening.

Please contact DetoxReferral@TheHarrisCenter.org or call 713.970.7000 for more information.

Download the brochure

Overview

The Harris Center assists individuals striving to achieve their employment goals through an educational process. Our providers help clients to identify their work skills, locate employment and teach the skills required to retain employment.

Eligibility

Supported Employment Services are available to patients of The Harris Center outpatient service programs. Patients must be 15 years of age or older. Patients interested in this service can be referred internally by the outpatient clinic staff.

What to Expect

Staff at The Harris Center are experienced Rehabilitation Clinicians trained in cultural competency, motivational interviewing and individual placement and supports. Our staff will advocate, provide resources, motivation and supports for those seeking employment.

Services are available Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 5:00pm.

Overview

The Harris Center provides supported housing services to assist individuals experiencing homelessness, individuals at risk of becoming homeless and/or low-income individuals and families transitioning from homelessness. We assess housing needs and match those needs to the potential programs for qualified individuals.

Eligibility

Supported Housing Services are available to patients of The Harris Center outpatient service programs. Patients must be 18 years of age or older and meet criteria of the housing resources available at the time of application.

What to Expect

According to the 2022 Homeless Count & Survey performed by lead agency, The Coalition for the Homeless Houston, 3,223 individuals in the Houston area are experiencing homelessness at any given time.

Experienced Rehabilitation Clinicians trained in Supportive Housing models, cultural competency, and motivational interviewing provide services throughout the agency. Staff will advocate, provide resources, and supports.

Services are available Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 5:00pm.

Overview

The Harris Center provides education on the effects tobacco has on one’s health. We provide resources, information, and tools for quitting tobacco use. We provide a group setting for individuals who are either prepared to quit smoking or who are simply contemplating quitting in the future.

Eligibility

This group is for anyone who is interested in obtaining more information or assistance with quitting tobacco use. This service is offered to all Harris Center outpatient service programs. Clients must be 18 years of age and older to participate.

What to Expect

According to the Center for Disease Control, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States (2022).

Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors (LCDC’s) at The Harris Center are trained and certified by the MD Anderson Certified Tobacco Treatment Training Program to provide services to individuals throughout the agency. 

Services are available Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 5:00pm.

Overview

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) is the practice of delivering outpatient treatment under court order to adults with severe mental illness who meet specific criteria, such as prior history of repeated hospitalizations. It is a tool for assisting those individuals most at risk for the negative consequences of not receiving treatment.

Eligibility
Individuals must meet all the following requirements:

• Harris County Residents who are 18 years or older
• Diagnosed with a severe behavioral illness
• Unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision, based on clinical determination
• Unlikely to voluntarily participate in the outpatient treatment that would enable to live safely in the community
• In need of Assisted Outpatient Treatment in order to prevent a relapse of deterioration which would be likely to result in serious harm to the person or others.
• Multiple psychiatric hospitalizations (must meet one of the below):
  • 2 or more admissions in the last 36 months, OR
  • Receipt of services in a forensic or other behavioral health unit of a correctional facility within he last 6 months, during which the individual was hospitalized or incarcerated, OR            
  • Engaged in one or more serious acts of violent behavior toward self or others or threats of, or attempts at, serious physical harm to self or others within the last 48 months for which the person was or is hospitalized or incarcerated. 

Services

Program includes case management in conjunction with assertive community treatment team services.   This includes the following: rehabilitation, care coordination, monitoring, medication-related services, family education, transportation, housing assistance, vocational, and other general support services traditionally provided by different components of the behavioral health system. The Harris Center AOT Program is a collaboration with HCPC (Harris County Psychiatric Center) and Harris County Probate Court #3. Additional possible services may include:    

• Medication;
• Blood or urinalysis tests to determine compliance with prescribed medications;
• Individual or group therapy;
• Day or partial day programs;
• Educational and vocational training;
• Supervised living;
• Alcohol or substance abuse treatment;
• Alcohol and/or substance abuse testing;
• Any other services prescribed to treat the person’s behavioral illness and to either assist the person in living and functioning in the community or to help prevent a relapse or deterioration that may reasonably be predicted to result in the need for hospitalization.

Discharge Criteria
Clients are not discharged from the AOT program while under a commitment issued by Harris County Probate Court #3 (typically for either 90 or 365 days).  Following the end of this commitment, clients are discharged when they meet the following criteria: demonstrate decreased symptomatology & improved quality of life, move out of county, demonstrate an unwillingness to participate in the program, expire, are unable to be located, are incarcerated in the State Prison system, or committed to inpatient State Hospital services.

Communication of PHI with Court Officials

The Harris Center adheres to all state and federal confidentiality rules and laws pertaining to the disclosure of protected health information. All written release of information requests can be submitted to The Harris Center Health Information Department at roicoordinator@theharriscenter.org. 

How to Make a Referral to AOT

Referrals are initiated while an individual is engaged in inpatient treatment at Harris County Psychiatric Center (HCPC) or Ben Taub Hospital.  Treatment teams at these facilities make referrals to the AOT program that are then assessed by The Harris Center and Harris Country Probate Court #3.  Contact with the AOT Project Director can be made for support and guidance with this process. 

Download the Brochure

Overview

Case management is a core service offered to patients in our clinics.  Case management targets the living needs of people seeking our services.  Individuals struggling with behavioral health issues can also have significant difficulty obtaining basic needs and performing routine living tasks.  This can include daily living activities, employment, housing, safety, and referral and linkage to many community resources.

Every person is different, with different needs and different challenges.  Case management can be tailored to the individual’s needs.  Some will need more intensive levels and hands on guidance to secure needs.  Others may just need a pointer in the right direction.  Harris Center staff will work with you to identify case management needs and to develop a working plan to meet those needs.

Overview

The Harris Center provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to both children and adults through the outpatient clinics.  Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, and severe behavioral illness. Numerous research studies suggest that CBT leads to significant improvement in functioning and quality of life.

Not all CBT will use specific strategies. Rather, the therapist and client work together, in a collaborative fashion, to develop an understanding of the problem and to develop a treatment strategy. CBT places an emphasis on helping individuals learn to be their own therapists. Through exercises in the session as well as “homework” exercises outside of sessions, patients/clients are helped to develop coping skills, whereby they can learn to change their own thinking, problematic emotions, and behavior.

CBT therapists emphasize what is going on in the person’s current life, rather than what has led up to their difficulties. A certain amount of information about one’s history is needed, but the focus is primarily on moving forward in time to develop more effective ways of coping with life.

Overview

The Early Onset Psychosis Program (EOPP) is a coordinated specialty care program offering both outpatient treatment and a consultation service for people who are currently experiencing a psychotic episode or who have recently received a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder within the past two years.

Eligibility

EOPP treats adolescents and young adults, ages 15 to 30, with a diagnosable psychotic condition. Our patients are typically referred directly from hospitals but can also be referrals from current outpatient providers, self or family referred. Recognizing the early signs of psychoses is important in order to get appropriate treatment as early as possible.

What to Expect

The goal of EOPP is to provide individuals experiencing an initial psychotic episode with accurate diagnosis and treatment for his or her illness. Licensed clinicians and psychiatrists provide comprehensive and immediate treatment in order to stabilize and reduce psychotic symptoms. The health care team also focuses on reducing hospital stays, improving compliance with outpatient treatment, maintaining a structured daily routine and improving overall day-to-day functioning.

EOPP offers a variety of comprehensive services to meet the unique needs of our patients and their families. Additional services offered include:

• Individual or group psychotherapy 
• Family support and education 
• Medications 
• Supported Employment/Education
• Case Management 

EOPP participation is limited to three years. At that point, we will evaluate the need for continued treatment and can assist with a transition to appropriate care.

Overview

The New START Program was established in April 1993 and is implemented through The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD.  This program provides intensive and transitional case management services to clients who are on Parole or Probation.

New START provides intensive community-based behavioral health services/supervision in the home and community by a specialized team of advocates and rehabilitation therapists to include licensed and non-licensed professionals. The New START team works in collaboration with Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Harris County Probation Department to ensure that the client is stabilized, does not re-offend, and improves the level of functioning and increase the use of core community re-integration skills, increase in self- reliance, and increase independent living skills.

Eligibility

Adults (18 years old or older) who present with behavioral-health related issues and who are on probation and/or parole.

What to Expect

• Clients are screened by Care Coordinators (in person or by video) for eligibility in services. 
• Clients are then scheduled with a prescriber for an intake assessment to complete the adult behavioral health evaluation. This could be a psychiatrist or Nurse Practitioner.
• Clients are then assigned to an Intensive Case Manager or Transitional Case Manager to receive skills training and psychosocial rehabilitative services based on service needs.
• Referrals for services not provided by New Start (i.e., employment services) can be sent within the agency or within the community.

Services

• Psychiatric medical services
• Care coordination
• Intensive and Transitional Case Management Services
• Skills Training and Psychosocial Rehabilitative Services         

Information needed for the first appointment includes an identification card, medication List, any discharge paperwork from hospitals and any information related to Probation and/or Parole requirements.

Overview 

The Outpatient Competency Restoration (OCR) program offers intensive medical and rehabilitative services to help stabilize clients with low-level, non-violent charges. These individuals were charged with a crime and were found by the court as incompetent to stand trial. The OCR program serves as a collaborative with UT Harris Country Psychiatric Center and the Criminal Courts to provide wrap around services. OCR is an alternative to State Hospital commitments, which allows clients to receive the treatment they need within the community. The OCR program offers 8 beds that are available to eligible individuals 24 hours/day for an estimated stay of 60-120 days. Clients that complete the intake process will undergo nursing, psychiatric, and a medical evaluation. They will also receive a crisis adult strengths and needs assessment. Clients may receive a hygiene pack and clothing if needed. 

Eligibility 

• Adults 18 years of age or older 

• Must be referred by the court system 

• Must have been charged with a crime and found by the court as incompetent to stand trial 

Services 

• Factual Knowledge and Rational Court Education Multimodal Educational Tools 

• Medication Management 

• Nursing Support and Education 

• Trauma Informed Care 

• Peer Support Services 

• Individual and Group Therapy 

• Continuity of Care Services 

Testimonial

Rochelle Griffin (60 years old) was admitted to the Outpatient Competency Restoration Program on Oct. 21, 2021. Ms. Griffin was admitted due to being incompetent to stand trial for her current felony charge. Although Ms. Griffin was unstable on her medical and psychiatric medication, she could still maintain an optimistic attitude about completing court education classes at the facility.

Throughout Ms. Griffin’s stay at the facility, the Care Coordinator (Tristian Suayan) assisted the client in obtaining HOT-ID, Social Security Card, SNAP benefits, Transitional Housing through the FACT Team, and PCP linkage. The Care Coordinator also assisted the client with court education classes by helping Ms. Griffin study for quizzes and understand information. Ms. Griffin was a comical, animated, and sassy individual who loved quality time outside, playing dominoes, and having conversations with our OCR staff. At 6160, there was never a dull moment when Ms. Griffin was around.

On Nov. 24, 2021, Ms. Griffin was deemed competent to stand trial, according to Dr. Coates report. Afterward, the Care Coordinator connected the client to FACT services, which assisted with transitional housing, PCP linkage, Psychotherapy, Psychiatrist, and routine care coordinator services. Ms. Griffin was later discharged from the facility on Jan. 14, 2022, to the personal care home, where she would continue care with FACT Team services.

Today, Ms. Griffin is at the personal care home doing great, maintaining appointments, following up with the court, and staying stable on her medication. Our staff greatly miss Ms. Griffin and will never forget her time at 6160.

The SUDOP program allows Community Health Workers (CHW) to increase linkage and retention in substance use, behavioral health, and medical services for Texas residents living with substance use disorders (SUD)

Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Goals of Program

• Address behavioral health disparities in the program service area
• Increase opportunities for substance users to reduce harm by way of Harm Reduction Kits
• Helping individuals address medical needs
• Helping individuals who desire change build a foundation for their recovery

Interdisciplinary Team

• Psychiatrist
• Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
• Master Level Clinician
• Care Coordinators (CHW)
• Psychiatric Technicians (CHW)
• Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) (CHW)
   

Chronic Consumer Stabilization Initiative (CCSI) is a collaborative effort between the Houston Police Department and The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD. CCSI is a program designed to identify, engage, and provide services to individuals who have been diagnosed with a serious and persistent behavioral illness, and have frequent encounters with the Houston Police Department either through their own initiative or by family and/or collateral contacts. CCSI Staff works with these individuals to engage them in mental health services and provide assistance in acquiring needed social services, with the intended goal of interrupting the cycle of repeated encounters with law enforcement and repeated psychiatric hospitalizations.

Goals

• Reduce the number of interactions between the individual diagnosed with serious and persistent behavioral illness and the Houston Police Department.
• Identify unmet needs and barriers in the community that contribute to an individual’s inability to engage and remain in behavioral health treatment.
• Link and coordinate individuals with behavioral health treatment.
• Provide support and education to individuals and family members, to minimize contact with law enforcement resulting from non-compliance with behavioral health treatment.
• Facilitate compliance with recommended behavioral health treatment to reduce the number of involuntary commitments to the Neuropsychiatric Center, decrease homelessness, reduce victimization, decrease substance abuse, and minimize interactions with law enforcement, while improving their quality of life.

Timeline

• 2018 – Houston Downtown Management District and The Harris Center completed the initial contract, including one Care Coordinator
• 2019 – Board meeting to discuss needs/barriers to success. Partnering with law enforcement was requested. 2020 – HCSO joined the partnership. SEARCH Homeless and CCAP conducted weekly meetings.
• 2021 – Upgraded Bachelor-level Care Coordinator positions to a Master-level Clinician position.

Target Population: Unhoused adults in downtown Houston with an observed, unmet behavioral health need

Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Referral Process

• Routine: Email
• Crisis: Telephone call directly to CCAP Admission Criteria
• Experiencing homelessness in downtown Houston
• Behavioral Health Need Referral Outcomes
• Engagement
• Intake/consent to services
• Voluntary / Involuntary admission to hospital (Emergency Detention Order)

Discharge Criteria

• Housed
• Connected
• Able to sustain
• Refusing to participate in the program after repeated efforts to engage

Program Goals

• Assisting individuals with obtaining and maintaining sustainable housing
• Connect to ongoing community supports, primary healthcare, and behavioral health care
• Improve quality of life Provide community support, training, and education to businesses and community partners

Overview

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a mobile outreach multidisciplinary treatment team that has the ability to provide the majority of behavioral health treatment, including rehabilitation, care coordination, monitoring, medication-related services, family education, transportation, housing assistance, vocational, and other general support services traditionally provided by different components of the behavioral health system.

Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) is indicated when a client has been identified as a targeted population by Utilization Management and/or Forensic Single Portal and has had multiple psychiatric hospitalizations.  FACT patients with involvement with the judicial system and have been non–responsive to traditional treatment approaches benefit highly.

Eligibility

Individuals for ACT and FACT must meet all the following requirements*:

• Harris County residents who are 18 years or older
• Diagnosed with a severe behavioral illness
• Multiple psychiatric hospitalizations (Any private or public local or State hospital, Crisis Stabilization unit, jail hospital unit, outpatient or jail based competency unit)/Crisis episodes (must meet one of the four below):

• 2 or more admissions in 180 days; OR
• 3 or more in the last two years; OR
• 1 or more hospitalizations >30days in the last two years; OR
• Crisis history = 3 on ANSA AND 1 hospitalization in the last 180 days or 2 hospitalizations in the last 2 years
• Must be on probation, pre-trial, NGRI, or parole in the community*

A referral is deemed ineligible if the patient is:

• Attending Partial Hospitalization Program or Intensive Outpatient Program (PHP/IOP)
• In a Co-Occurring Drug In-Patient Program at time of referral
• Has been advised by treating physician to participate in a substance abuse in-patient program
• If patient is not on probation or parole*

*FACT program only

Discharge Criteria
Clients are discharged when clients: demonstrate decreased symptomatology & improved quality of life, move out of county, demonstrate an unwillingness to participate in the program, expire, are unable to be located, are incarcerated in the State Prison system, or committed to inpatient State Hospital services.

Communication of PHI with Court Officials

The Harris Center adheres to all state and federal confidentiality rules and laws pertaining to the disclosure of protected health information. All written release of information requests can be submitted to The Harris Center Health Information Department at roicoordinator@theharriscenter.org. 

Referral Process

Contact with Utilization Management is needed for all ACT and FACT referrals not open to the Agency. Clients currently open to the agency will be referred by the Practice Manager at the respective clinic and can be submitted in EPIC. Once reviewed by the Practice Manager, clinic staff must notify NW/SE ACT Practice Manager and Intake Coordinators via Outlook email.

Download the Brochure

Although we have 4 large community centers across Harris County, The Harris Center is committed to meeting people where they are, to the largest extent possible. We accomplish this by partnering with other providers in the community. Staff at these locations work with adults that have behavioral health needs, including completing an assessment, scheduling an initial physician appointment, and connecting the individual to their most convenient adult outpatient clinic.  

Locations include: 

Ibn Sina Foundation 
11226 S Wilcrest Dr 
Houston, TX, 77099 
281-977-7471  

Community Resource Center at Memorial Hermann Southwest 
7777 Southwest Freeway, Suite 110 
Houston, TX 77074 
713-456-4116  

Community Resource Center at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights 
1740 West 27th Street, Suite 331 

Houston, TX 77007 
713-314-8100  

Community Resource Center at Memorial Hermann Northeast 
18838 S. Memorial Dr., Ste. 104 
Humble, Texas 77338 
713-814-2470