Research and Evaluation

The Institute conducts independent, sponsored research to advance the mental health field. Researchers at the Institute use a variety of research designs and methods to learn about mental health practices and service systems. We want to share relevant knowledge with Texas behavioral health consumers, providers, administrators, and policymakers. The Institute conducts rigorous evaluations of behavioral health programs within the state, emphasizing evaluation data to monitor progress and enhance quality through continuous feedback. Researchers use participatory research practices to partner with community and state stakeholders to ensure research or evaluation findings are meaningful and useful to those participating in the research endeavor.

Implementation Support

The Institute brings the field of implementation science to the planning, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining of behavioral health best practices. Institute staff assist state and local agencies in:

• Selecting practices that meet the agency or community’s unique needs
• Create an implementation plan that builds on effective practices
• Support implementation through ongoing coaching, problem-solving, and implementation monitoring

Institute staff are skilled at assessing organizational readiness, coaching for selected evidence-based practices, facilitating strategic planning processes, collecting data for Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, and developing multi-media communications to support implementation. The Institute conducts multi-site implementations through various shared learning models.

Workforce Development and Training

The Institute provides training and workforce support to advance behavioral health best practices within Texas. Our staff were trained by certified professionals and also developed trainings in other key areas. Staff are skilled at developing interactive training approaches that disseminate information and change behavior within complex service systems. The Institute provides training in:

• Wraparound planning
• Motivational interviewing
• Trauma-informed care
• Family-driven planning
• Safety planning interventions
• Leadership development
• The Cultural and Linguistic Appropriateness of Services (CLAS) standards
• Suicide prevention best practices
• And more

Policy and Strategic Support

TIEMH works on informing state and local governments and agencies about opportunities that strengthen systems that support individuals with mental health challenges and their families. TIEMH provides support to state and local agencies by:

• Identifying best practices
• Facilitating strategic planning
• Supporting system change initiatives and partnerships that include individuals with lived experience
• Developing draft policies or memorandums of understanding and supporting innovative financing strategies