AUSTIN – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is developing the state’s first Intellectual and Developmental Disability Strategic Plan and has posted the plan’s foundation online.
This is the state’s first statewide strategic plan focused solely on intellectual disabilities.
Working with stakeholders across Texas, HHSC identified a need to develop a comprehensive strategy, given the unique challenges faced by people with IDD, according to Sonja Gaines, HHSC deputy executive commissioner for Intellectual and Developmental Disability and Behavioral Health Services.
The foundation is the first phase in the development of the full plan and aims to provide an initial understanding of the Texas system for people with IDD.
“We are collaborating with agencies across the state, and our goal is to highlight what we’re doing well and how we can do better,” Gaines said. “This statewide strategic plan will help us as we develop new interventions, models of care and best practices to enhance quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
HHSC intends to develop a full Statewide IDD Strategic Plan by late summer 2019. The plan will focus on the development of goals, objectives and strategies to address identified gaps, short- and long-term goals, a timeline for implementation and mechanisms to track outcomes.
In addition to the IDD strategic plan, HHSC has updated its legislatively mandated five-year Statewide Behavioral Health Strategic Plan to address gaps in the mental health and substance use services system. The strategic plan details state agencies’ work to coordinate services and increase access to effective services. The strategic plan also details progress of implementation of legislation and identifies initiatives and best practices to address gaps in the services delivery system.
For more information, view the Statewide Behavioral Health Strategic Plan Update and Foundation for the IDD Strategic Plan here: https://hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/laws-regulations/reports-presentations/2019/hb1-statewide-behv-hlth-idd-plan-feb-2019.pdf