
What Makes Us Different
From respite care to Home and Community-based Services to day habilitation and drop-in programs, The Harris Center assists thousands each year by coordinating caring, compassionate support for individuals with intellectual & developmental disabilities. In addition, clinicians and case managers have developed extensive community partnerships that benefit individuals with Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and other conditions. The Harris Center also coordinates care for those with a dual diagnosis of a behavioral illness and an intellectual or developmental disability.
Learn More
For questions about these Services, scheduling appointments, and more, contact The Harris Center Patient Access Line.
713-970-7000
Our Services
Overview
The IDD Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) program is comprised of a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA’s) and ABA Specialists. The program is designed to help individuals that struggle with behaviors that are not critical to their well- being, but still affect their integration to the general population.
Target Population
Individuals ages 3 and above with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) including autism who are experiencing frequent maladaptive behavior.
Eligibility Criteria
- Resident of Harris County
- Have a completed Determination of Intellectual Disability (DID) showing eligibility for IDD services.
- Referrals are received from IDD Service Coordination along with the Person Directed Plan (PDP) showing the authorization of PBS service, which includes Community Support (Internal) and Behavior Supports.
- Currently are exhibiting frequent maladaptive behavior, which includes but are not limited to
- Aggression (Physical and Verbal)
Property Destruction - Self-Injurious Behaviors
- Tantrums
- Non-Compliant Responses
- Elopement
- Pica
- Toilet Training
- Aggression (Physical and Verbal)
What to Expect
- An initial intake assessment
- A treatment plan and behavior support plan are developed with the consumer/caregiver to guide treatment and goals. The treatment plan is reviewed with the consumer/caregiver at least every 90 days.
- Parent / Caregiver training
- Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) must be present for all sessions.
- Services are provided via telehealth or in the community (e.g., family’s residence). We are not allowed to provide services in schools.
Overview
Provides behavior analytic, psychological, and social work counseling services to children and adults with IDD including autism, and co-occurring psychiatric conditions, feeding disorders or severe behaviors. Services provided include but are not limited to evaluation, diagnosis, psychotherapy, behavioral therapy and psychoeducation services to children and adults.
- Anxiety
- Anger and Stress Management
- Grief and Loss
- Bullying
- Trauma
- Chronic Health Concerns
- Self-Esteem
- Relationship Concerns
- Depression
- Occupational Concerns
We offer services to individuals ages 3+ with an Intellectual Disability and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder living in Harris County.
Eligibility Criteria
- Resident of Harris County
- Have a completed Determination of Intellectual Disability (DID) showing eligibility for IDD services.
- Referrals are received from IDD Service Coordination along with the Person Directed Plan (PDP) showing the authorization of specialized therapies.
- Individuals must be able to participate in talk therapy.
What to Expect
- The Service Coordinator to authorize specialized therapy as specified in the person directed plan.
- Face-to-face or telehealth with the individual, legally authorized representative (LAR), or legal guardian, if applicable.
- Training provided to the individual, legally authorized representative (LAR), or legal guardian, if applicable.
- Provider of Specialized Therapies is licensed by the appropriate State of Texas licensing authority.
- Participation in service planning team meetings.
- Developing an individualized treatment plan.

What is a Feeding Disorder?
A feeding disorder is identified when a child is unable or refuses to eat or drink sufficient quantities to maintain their nutritional status. Typically, children with feeding difficulties exhibit strong preferences for certain foods (by type, texture, color and/or packaging) and consume a narrower quantity of food when compared with their peers.
What is Feeding Therapy?
Feeding therapy provides an evidence-based behavioral approach to address feeding disorder concerns. Treatment needs are identified after the completion of a thorough assessment including client observation with food presentation, indirect assessment measures, and parent/caregiver interview.
Target Population
Individuals who are 9+ months old, who struggle with food and/or liquid refusal, texture or type selectivity, general mealtime problem behavior and refusal to self-feed, all of which can result in difficulty maintaining their nutritional status.
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be between ages 9 months and 18 years
- Not restricted to individuals who live in Harris County
- Not restricted to individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities
- Individual is fed 1-2 times per week for an hour at a time
- Parents/caregivers must attend every session and will be trained on procedures
- Parent/caregiver training is an integral part of our program
What to Expect
- Feeding authorized by your service coordinator, if applicable.
- Service is provided via face-to-face or telehealth with an experienced licensed clinician.
- Participating in the developing of the behavior support plan, if needed.
- Family training
- Individualized treatment plan
The Coffeehouse program is a peer focused social skills and communication group training group for adults with autism disorder and /or limited cognitive delay diagnosis. The program facilitates employment and full community integration through increasing interpersonal communication, independence, and social skills.
Target Population
We offer services to individuals ages 18+ with an Intellectual Disability (ID) and/or autism living in Harris County. The individual must demonstrate a social deficit and be able to actively participate in communicative interactions, which includes reciprocal feedback, independently initiate conversation, and having the ability to navigate peer’s interaction.
Eligibility Criteria
- Individuals must be a resident of Harris County.
- Have a completed Determination of Intellectual Disability (DID) showing eligibility for IDD services.
- Referrals are received from IDD Service Coordination along with the Person Directed Plan (PDP) showing the authorization of Day Habilitation (Internal), Behavior Support, and Community Support (Internal).
- The individuals must be 18+.
- The individuals cannot be actively enrolled in primary or secondary education.
- Individuals must be able to participate in talk therapy.
- Individuals must be able to attend the group with minimal supervision.
- Individuals must have transportation to and from the program.
What to Expect
- Face-to-face or telehealth participation in group discussion
- Assistance, support, and training to acquire, retain, or improve self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills.
- Assistance, support, and training should lead to the participation in home and community life.
- Specified in the individual’s Plan of Services and Supports (which is the plan in place at the time the service is delivered).
- Face-to-face or telehealth spent in evaluations/assessments with a specific individual (with or without their representative’s present) related to the provision of day habilitation.
- Participation in service planning team meetings
More information at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlMt7ETZNp8

IDD Crisis Intervention provides crisis triage, assessment, linkage to appropriate internal and external services, consultation with consumers/caregivers/providers, and community training. Services are provided up to 30 days.
Target Population
Individuals ages 3 and above with known or suspected Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) including autism who are experiencing a crisis.
Eligibility Criteria
- Resident of Harris County
- Have known or suspected Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) including autism.
- Currently experiencing a crisis-
- Presents an immediate danger to self or others; or
- Behavioral or physical health is at risk of serious deterioration; or
- Believes he/she presents an immediate danger to self or others or that his/her behavioral or physical health is at risk of serious deterioration.
- Referrals are received from internal and external sources including directly from caregivers.
What to Expect
- An assessment is completed with the consumer/caregiver/Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) to collect pertinent information to assist with identifying needed referrals and preliminary treatment recommendations.
- Linkage to IDD Eligibility and any other needed internal/external services.
- Brief psychoeducation will be provided as needed.
- Services are provided via telehealth or in the community (e.g., family’s residence).

Community Based Supports (CBS) provides crisis Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)/behavioral support, care coordination, and nursing services in the community for an average of 30-90 days.
Target Population
Individuals ages 3 and above with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) including autism who are experiencing frequent and high intensity of maladaptive behavior.
Eligibility Criteria
- Resident of Harris County
- Have a completed Determination of Intellectual Disability (DID) showing eligibility for IDD services.
- Referrals are received from IDD Service Coordination along with the Person Directed Plan (PDP) showing the authorization of CBS services.
- Currently are exhibiting frequent and high intensity of maladaptive behavior.
- Self-Injurious Behavior (SIB)- frequent and high intensity
- Physical aggression- frequent and high intensity
- Property destruction- frequent and high intensity
- Elopement- frequent and successful
- Maladaptive behavior(s) must be related to IDD and not MH
What to Expect
- An intake assessment
- A treatment plan and behavior support plan are developed with the consumer/caregiver/LAR to guide treatment and goals. The treatment plan is reviewed with the consumer/caregiver/LAR at least every 90 days.
- Caregiver Training
- LAR must be present for all sessions.
- Services are provided via telehealth or in the community (e.g., family’s residence). We are not allowed to provide services in schools.

Outpatient Biopsychosocial Approach for IDD Services (OBI) provides outpatient mental health (MH) services for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and MH needs.
Target Population
Children and adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) including autism and who have a co-occurring behavioral health condition, substance use disorder, or behavior support needs.
Eligibility Criteria
- Resident of Harris County
- Have a completed Determination of Intellectual Disability (DID) showing eligibility for IDD services. Also, must have a co-occurring behavioral health condition, substance use disorder, or behavior support needs.
- Referrals are received from internal and external referral sources.
What to Expect
- An initial screening is completed to determine appropriateness for OBI.
- Once admitted into OBI, a Biopsychosocial (BPS) Assessment is completed with the consumer/caregiver/support system.
- A treatment plan is then developed with the consumer/caregiver/support system to guide treatment and goals. The treatment plan is reviewed with the consumer/caregiver/support system at least every 90 days.
- Collaborative Care Case Management- Is a holistic case management approach focusing on increasing access and creating a team of medical, psychiatric, behavioral health, and paraprofessionals to address the consumer’s unique needs.
- Skills training- Offers both the consumer and his/her support system behavioral wellness support and skills training (e.g., behavior support, social and communication skills, emotional regulation, employment readiness, etc.).
- Training and Education- Provides education and training on co-occurring IDD and MH conditions to practitioners in the behavioral health, substance abuse, or other related fields.
- Services are provided via telehealth or in the community (e.g., family residence).

TxHmL is a Medicaid waiver program that supplies essential services and supports to Texans with an intellectual disability (ID) or a related condition so that they can continue to live in the community. TxHmL services are intended to supplement rather than replace services received from other programs, such as Texas Health Steps, or from natural supports, including families, neighbors, or community organizations.
The Harris Center is responsible for maintaining and transferring information for the statewide interest list for Harris County residents, who have or are suspected of having Autism, ID (IDD), or an HHSC-Approved Related Condition. Additionally, IDD services include enrollment in HCS for eligible individuals.
Adaptive Aid
The Harris Center is responsible for maintaining and transferring information for the statewide interest list for Harris County residents, who have or are suspected of having Autism, ID (IDD), or an HHSC Approved Related Condition. Additionally, IDD services includes enrollment in HCS for eligible individuals.
Services may include:
- Day habilitation
- Respite services
- Employment services
- Nursing services
- Dental services
- Behavioral support Community support (transportation)
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Audiology services
- Dietary services
- Minor home modifications

CFC provides certain services and supports to individuals living in the community who are enrolled in the Medicaid program and meet CFC eligibility requirements.
Services and supports may include:
- Activities of daily living (eating, toileting, and grooming)
- Activities related to living independently in the community, and health-related tasks (personal assistance services)
- Acquisition, maintenance, and enhancement of skills necessary for the individuals to care for themselves and to live independently in the community (habilitation)
- Providing a backup system or ways to ensure continuity of services and supports (emergency response services)
- Training people how to select, manage and dismiss their own attendants (support management)

Community-based Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disability (ICF-IID) provide 24-hour residential services for people with intellectual disabilities or related conditions. Residents have access to comprehensive and individualized services and supports in their local communities including, primary and specialty medical care, vocational and employment services, adaptive aids, and planned activities such as shopping, dining out, and going to movies and other recreational and leisure activities. Most community-based ICFs/IID across Texas serve people in homes that accommodate up to six people.
Experiencing a Crisis Situation?
If you or the individual is experiencing a crisis situation, click here to fill out our Contact form.
A Crisis situation is defined as the following:
- An individual is in danger or at risk of losing his or her support system, especially the living arrangement or supports needed to maintain self;
- An individual is at risk of abuse or neglect;
- An individual's basic health and safety needs are not being met through current supports;
- An individual is at risk for functional loss without intervention or preventive or maintenance services; or
- An individual demonstrates repeated criminal behavior.
IMPORTANT: CALL: 911, if you or the individual is a physical danger to one's self or others.
If you are not a Harris County resident, click here to find your LIDDA.