Mental health support for toddlers has lagged in Texas. That’s now changing.
Lawmakers and child care centers are pushing for a statewide mental health system for toddlers. Full Story
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Stephen Simpson is the mental health reporter, based in Austin, where he covers behavioral health in schools, treatment in the judicial system, substance abuse and the state mental health system, among other topics. He previously worked in his home state of Arkansas as a politics reporter, where he covered the state's Supreme Court, House of Representatives and correctional system for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Stephen's earliest career experiences include reporting and copy editing at The Jonesboro Sun and The Pine Bluff Commercial. He earned a degree in online and print journalism with a minor in filmmaking from the University of Central Arkansas.
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![Children work on letter puzzles at Kid's Castle Family Daycare and Preschool in Pflugerville on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Texas leads push for faster certification of mental health professionals
Other states look to Texas as the state psychology board pushes against the new national licensing requirements. Full Story
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![Chair John Bielamowicz speaks during a a Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists meeting Thursday, April 11, 2024 in Austin. During the meeting, the state board met with the Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards to discuss the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology.]()
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What Texas can learn from crisis mental health care in Arizona
Texas officials look to Arizona cities when creating crisis mental health centers. Full Story
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![A view of downtown Tucson skyline against the Santa Catalina Mountains in Tucson, Arizona on Dec. 13, 2023.]()
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How a lack of supervisors keeps new mental health workers from entering the field
Future Texas therapists must complete internships to start their careers, but there’s not enough providers to mentor all of the students. Full Story
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![Psychotherapist Monrovia Van Hoose's office on Friday, Mar. 11, 2022.]()
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State appeals court strikes down Austin’s marijuana decriminalization ordinance
A state appeals court ruled that Austin’s voter-approved ordinance obstructed the enforcement of state drug laws. The court rejected a similar ordinance in San Marcos last week. Full Story
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![A sign asking for the decriminalization of marijuana is posted outside of an event hosted by Ground Game in Harker Heights on Dec. 3, 2022.]()
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San Antonio church leaders train to serve as mental health counselors
Under a Harvard Medical School pilot program, church members and leaders will work as interns before counseling on their own, referring more serious cases to medical providers. Full Story
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![Scenes from St. Dominic Catholic Church on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at St. Dominic Catholic Church in San Antonio, Tx. The church has found success in implementing mental health resources into their available services, facilitated by the Congregational Collective, which is a program from the HEB Foundation that promotes mental wellness through the support of faith communities.]()
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A look at the Texas mental health workforce shortage
A guide to some of the professions that make up the mental health workforce. Full Story
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![The Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists holds a discussion with the Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards regarding the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Austin. Mariann Burnett-Atwell, PSY.D., Michelle Paul, PH.D., Jennifer Laforce, PH.D., Hao Song, PH.D., and Alex Siegel, J.D., PH.D. sat on the panel during the discussion.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
No backup required: Texas senior care depends on luck and wits to cope with heat after power outages
There’s no Texas requirement that nursing homes and assisted living facilities keep generators on hand to power air conditioning after storms. Full Story
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![Denise Wright, a housekeeper, goes through residents’ refrigerators to throw out food that spoiled during the blackout on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Ella Springs Senior Living Community in Houston, Tx. The lack of power meant that many residents had to throw out the majority of their cold food items, no matter how recently purchased.]()
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Beryl power outages crowd hospitals, delay new admissions
In Houston, discharged patients remain in an arena to avoid powerless homes. Some 70 miles north, Livingston’s hospital is one of 17 in the state relying on a generator because of Hurricane Beryl power outages. Full Story
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![NRG Arena was being converted into a temporary medical facility on Wednesday. The facility will have 250 beds for hospital patients who have been discharged and can’t return to homes without power in Houston, according to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.]()
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Beryl power outage updates: More than 98,000 Texas electricity customers remain without power a week after Beryl
Tens of thousands of households and businesses aren’t expected to have electricity for most of this week. Full Story
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![Governor Greg Abbott, speaks about Centerpoint Energy during a press conference at Gallery Furniture, Houston, Thursday, Sunday July 14,2024. Doug Sweet Jr. for Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Douglas Sweet Jr. for The Texas Tribune