Last week, the Telehealth Counseling Clinic (TCC) hosted an event to celebrate the success of its partnership with the Washington County/Faith Mission Health & Service Center. The collaboration between TCC and the Health & Service Center provides tele-mental health counseling services to Washington County residents.

The event featured a program with key partners expressing their continued support of the collaboration. TCC Executive Director, Dr. Tim Elliott, summarized the history of the clinic and Reverend Randy Wells, Executive Director of Faith Mission, exemplified the success of the clinic’s services by telling the story of a past TCC client who, as a result of the counseling received, was able to move forward into a prosperous career and enjoy life again. A special keynote speech was given by Ms. Melissa Rowan, the Healthcare Policy Director at the Texas Council of Community Centers located in Austin. Ms. Rowan noted that more than half of all Texas psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and social workers provide their services in the metropolitan areas of Texas, which leave rural communities with scarce resources for mental health care. Furthermore, Ms. Rowan highlighted the accomplishments of the telehealth program, stating that “telehealth is bringing specialty care to rural settings where patients would otherwise go without needed treatment.”

Many Washington County community leaders attended the event including county judge John Brieden, county commissioners Joy Fuchs and Luther Hueske, city of Brenham mayor, Milton Tate, and Brenham city manager, Terry Roberts. During the celebration, Judge Brieden presented TCC and the Health & Service Center with a proclamation, naming October 30th Telehealth Counseling Day in Washington County. “It is a great honor to have a day recognizing the success of the telehealth program in Washington County and an even bigger honor knowing that we have so much support for what we do,” says Clinic Director, Dr. Carly McCord.

Overall, the event provided evidence that the telehealth program was beginning to bridge the gap in mental health services in Washington County. With year one in the books, everyone involved in the partnership is looking forward to many successful years of collaboration.

In October 2013, the Telehealth Counseling Clinic (TCC) expanded its counseling services via telehealth to the Washington County/Faith Mission Health & Service Center in Brenham. To celebrate this one year partnership, they will be hosting an anniversary celebration on Thursday, October 30th from 3:00 – 4:30 pm at the Brenham center. The event will feature keynote speaker, Ms. Melissa Rowan, the Healthcare Policy Director at the Texas Counsel of Community Centers, who will be discussing the importance of expanding mental health services to rural areas.

The partnership between the two entities evolved through TCC’s participation in the Texas Healthcare Transformation and Quality Improvement Program which funds innovative projects focused on improving the delivery of health services. With support from the state transformation program, TCC is able to expand their services to communities, like Washington County, who have limited access to mental health counseling.

To make the services possible, Washington County and Faith Mission provided facility space, staffing support, and connectivity to the digital network that supports the telehealth connection and TCC utilized project funding to support equipment and personnel costs.

The public is encouraged to attend the event, tour the facility, and meet Dr. Timothy R. Elliott, the Executive Director of the TCC and Dr. Carly McCord, Clinic Director of the TCC, to learn more about the counseling services offered. Please join us at the anniversary event to celebrate this successful partnership and the services they have provided to their residents.