Texas Health and Human Services Commission — Texas Integrated Funding Initiative Consortium

Project Goal
Develop a family-based alternatives model for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live in institutions or who are at risk of being placed in institutions.

Project Summary
This project was designed to assist in implementing the expansion of the Texas Integrated Funding Initiative Consortium (TIFI) pilot project, which developed community-based systems of care for children who are receiving residential mental health services or who are at risk of residential placement for services. In 1999, the state Legislature directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to add up to six additional TIFI sites in Texas. These sites demonstrated family-centered approaches that blended federal, state, and local funds to increase both cost efficiencies and the quality of services. Based on these pilots, a consortium of family members and staff who represent the Council and six other state health and human service agencies were to make recommendations to the Legislature on a blended funding model for community-based services statewide.