Mental Health & Substance Use in Texas

• Overview of available care levels (ER, inpatient, outpatient, residential)

• What to expect after an emergency room visit

• Why continuity of care is often disrupted

Key Issue:

Short-term stabilization is not the same as recovery. Ongoing care is critical.

Know Your Coverage

• Mental health parity laws require equal coverage for mental health and physical health

• Insurance denials can be appealed

• Documentation matters—keep records of all care and communications

Helpful Organizations:

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Steps Families Can Take

1. Request a psychiatric evaluation after any overdose event

2. Ask for a discharge plan before leaving any facility

3. Push for referrals to long-term or residential care

4. Follow up—continuity requires persistence

Tip: You are allowed to advocate firmly. The system often requires it.

Access to care in Texas often starts with knowing where to go. These organizations provide critical entry points for treatment, assessment, and recovery support.

Outreach, Screening, Assessment & Referral (OSAR)

Outreach Screening Assessment and Referral Centers

OSAR programs are state-funded access points that help individuals and families connect to substance use treatment services.

What they provide:

• Free and confidential assessments

• Referrals to appropriate levels of care (outpatient, inpatient, detox, residential)

• Priority access for certain populations

• Guidance navigating state-funded treatment options

Why it matters:

OSAR is often the first step in accessing care in Texas—especially for those without private insurance or needing immediate placement support.

Cenikor Foundation

Cenikor is one of the largest nonprofit behavioral health providers in Texas, offering a full continuum of care.

Services include:

• Detoxification services

• Residential treatment programs

• Outpatient and intensive outpatient care

• Recovery support and reintegration services

Why it matters:

Cenikor provides longer-term treatment options—addressing one of the biggest gaps in the system: sustained recovery beyond short-term stabilization.

• Overview of current system gaps

• Policy priorities of Camille’s Promise

• Opportunities for legislative engagement

Focus Area:

Automatic psychiatric evaluation following overdose presentation in ER settings.

• One-pager (Camille’s Promise Overview)

• Policy Brief (Texas-focused)

• Advocacy Toolkit (coming soon)