about us

MHC strengthens mental health through collaboration

Who we are

we believe that healthy minds lead to healthy communities

Mental Health Connection (MHC) of Tarrant County is a collaboration of dues-paying members committed to revolutionizing the mental health service system by developing long-term systemic changes while addressing emerging needs within our community.

Where we started

In 1999, the Wedgwood Baptist Church shooting happened as a result of a man suffering from an untreated mental illness. Fort Worth Mayor, Kenneth Barr, turned to local mental health providers, requesting a plan to improve access to quality mental health services for all Tarrant County residents. The initial providers were comprised of Tarrant County, My Health My Resources (MHMR) of Tarrant County, the City of Fort Worth, Fort Worth ISD, Cook Children’s Medical Center, Lena Pope, and the Child Study Center. These founders provided leadership and financial resources, created task forces and set parameters for collaborative planning, recruited organizational and individual members, and developed a fees structure. With this, Mental Health Connection of Tarrant County was established, and this core group has expanded to over 100 members that include county and city officials, both private and not for profit hospitals and service providers, school districts and universities, child welfare and foster care, individual practitioners and impacted family members. With our continuous collaboration, we’re able to develop long-term changes in the system, while addressing emerging needs. 

our impact

Together, with collaboration from our members, MHC provides resources, initiatives, and training from national experts and leaders, guiding our community through trauma, towards resilience. 

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Our leadership

Board of directors

  • Ottis Goodwin, Board Chair

    Fort Worth ISD, Director of Family and Community Resources

  • Ashley Elgin, PhD, Board Vice Chair

    Lena Pope, Chief Executive Officer

  • Jennifer Gilley, Board Treasurer

    Tarrant County Challenge, Executive Director

  • Holiday Bean, Psy.D, Board Secretary

    The TELOS Project, Clinical Director

  • Julie Evans, Board Immediate Past Chair

    Alliance for Children, Executive Director

  • Zelia Baugh

    JPS Health Network, Executive Vice President Behavioral Health

  • Susan Garnett

    My Health My Resources (MHMR), Chief Executive Officer

  • Matthew Vereecke

    The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation, Chief Executive Officer

  • Bennie Medlin

    Tarrant County Juvenile Services, Director and Chief Juvenile Probation Officer

      • Wayne Carson, PhD

        ACH Child and Family Services, Chief Executive Officer

      • Gaby Garcia

        PSP Professional Services, President

      • Matt Robison

        Cook Children’s Child Study Center, Director

      • Frank Hernandez, PhD

        Texas Christian University, Dean of College Education

 

 

staff

Christina Judge, MA, CFRE, Executive Director

Mental Health Connection of Tarrant County

Kim Brennan, M. Ed., Strategic Initiatives Director

Mental Health Connection of Tarrant County

Chasity Warren, Office & Communications Manager

Mental Health Connection of Tarrant County