Psychiatric Rehabilitation

MP21 - Thoughtful Step-downs: Mapping the Path from State Hospitals to Community Integration

Monday, May 1, 2023

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

Location: South Exhibit Hall HJK, Level 2, LACC

Poster Presenter(s)

Veronica M. Martinez

Director of Children and Adult Mental Health Services Unit
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Austin, Texas
LL

Lauren Lacefield-Lewis

Senior Advisor for Capacity Management
HHSC - Health and Specialty Care System - State Hospitals
Austin, Texas

Texas is piloting an innovative step-down from state hospital program that facilitates the discharge of clinically appropriate adults into the community with services based on the person’s physical and psychiatric needs and strengths. The program helps participants build the skills needed for the most independent living possible, including fostering impactful social interactions through meaningful activities. Each pilot site took a different route with the same destination in mind – to help participants reach their potential in the community of their choice.

Learning Objectives:

Describe best practices in step-down programs that facilitate successful community integration.
Demonstrate creative solutions to challenges for rural and urban step-down programs.
Describe examples of individualized goals of residents to help promote independent living and reach personal aspirations.
Describe lessons learned from the step-down pilot concept to implementation.
Describe the unique challenges of special populations (forensic, medically complex, elderly).