Why are current systems being changed now?
• The consolidation of the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA) and the mental health services of the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (TDMHMR) into the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in 2003 put the oversight for community mental health and substance abuse services in the same organization. TCADA and TDMHMR each had their own systems for managing client care and services but they were not compatible with one another. Developing a system that combined MH and SA information was the next step in improving organization effectiveness. The 79th Legislature supported the information system consolidation through an allocation of $1.1 million. Besides the administrative and financial efficiencies achieved through a consolidated information system, the ability to share critical client information between service providers will greatly enhance client care and treatment.
