South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center

Overview

The MHTTC Network included a Network Coordinating Office (NCO), ten (10) MHTTC Regional Centers, a Tribal Affairs Center, and a Hispanic and Latino Center. This collaborative network supported resource development and dissemination, training and technical assistance, and workforce development in the mental health field. The MHTTC Network worked with organizations and treatment practitioners involved in the delivery of mental health services to strengthen their capacity to deliver effective evidence-based practices to individuals, encompassing the full continuum of services spanning mental illness prevention, treatment, and recovery support.

South Southwest MHTTC

The South Southwest MHTTC (SSW-MHTTC) served the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region 6, including Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Its population of focus included mental health clinicians, supervisors, and program managers serving individuals with or at risk of serious emotional disturbances (SED) or severe mental illness (SMI); peer support providers; community mental health, health, or peer-run organizations; and single-state agency administrators focused on comprehensive state public mental health systems.

Resources

Cultural and Linguistic

The South Southwest MHTTC worked to strengthen the behavioral health workforce by promoting culturally and linguistically responsive care, ensuring all communities receive respectful and effective mental health services.

School Mental Health

The South Southwest MHTTC helped schools in Region 6 expand evidence-based mental health services, supporting educators and improving outcomes for students facing mental health challenges.

First Episode Psychosis

The First Episode Psychosis (FEP) focus area provided cost-free training, education, and support for mental health providers serving individuals recently diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (commonly known as “early psychosis”).

Peer Support Workforce Project

This project promoted peer support integration within diverse mental health settings and fosters collaborations. Its goal is to create a more equitable and empowering mental health system that supports recovery and well-being for all.

Trauma-Informed Care

In collaboration with the Children’s Commission and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), the South Southwest MHTTC has compiled and curated documents meant to provide all available trauma-informed care training resources for various professionals.

Our Goals

  • Increase the capacity of the mental health workforce to provide culturally sensitive, effective interventions that enhance the quality of life for individuals experiencing mental health disorders.
  • Increase the number of organizations implementing evidence-based practices to promote mental health, intervene early, prevent suicide and serious mental illness, and effectively treat individuals with mental health and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
  • Strengthen the region’s capacity to support the recovery of individuals with serious emotional disturbances and serious mental illness.
  • Provide technical assistance in quality improvement models to enhance the outcomes of mental health services within the region.

Area of Focus

The South Southwest MHTTC focused on several key areas to address the diverse needs within the region. These areas included School Mental Health, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, Provider Well-Being, First Episode Psychosis, and the Peer Support Workforce Project. Click on each link to find resources related to these focus areas.

Resources