making an

impact

our 2021 Annual report
our history
mission

vision

& future

The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute provides independent, nonpartisan, data-driven, and trusted policy and program guidance that creates equitable systemic changes so all people can obtain effective, efficient behavioral health care when and where they need it.

The Meadows Institute grew out of The Meadows Foundation’s unyielding concern for the people of Texas. In 2014, The Meadows Foundation established the Institute as an independent nonprofit organization, and in 2018 we launched our first regional center for Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast as The Hackett Center. In 2021, we added the Paso del Norte Center to serve El Paso and the surrounding region. 

With offices in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, San Antonio, and the Panhandle and initiatives in every region of our state, the Meadows Institute has become the most trusted source in Texas for effective, efficient, and equitable policy and programs driven by results-oriented analysis and proven solutions. We are also now growing that trust nationally to address the historic mental health and substance use challenges that COVID-19 laid bare across America and the world. 

Our team works at the national, state, regional, and local levels to help mental health and substance use treatment systems improve, scale best practices, develop resources, and increase public awareness and trust to bring people everywhere the most effective treatments for recovery from mental illness and addiction. The Meadows Institute’s vision is for Texas to be the leader in helping our state and nation meet the needs of all people with mental health and addiction challenges. 

Our Vision for the Future

Making Texas the national leader in meeting the needs of all people with mental health and addiction challenges.

year in

review

As the world struggled to recover from the pandemic, in 2021 the Meadows Institute’s work spanned from Austin, helping the state scale up care for Texas children, to Washington, D.C., promoting national efforts to expand access to and improve the quality of care in Texas and elsewhere.

ourin

work

The Meadows Institute team can be found helping communities analyze needs and improve their mental health care capabilities, working with state and national leaders to improve policy, coordinating with public safety and law enforcement officials to better and more safely serve their communities, bringing people together, and spreading awareness about the importance of mental health care.

making a difference

regionally

In 2018, we launched The Hackett Center, our first regional center for Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast. In 2021, we added the Paso del Norte Center to serve El Paso and the surrounding region. These centers drive collaboration, change, and systemic improvement across their regions.

change-in

makers

Throughout 2021, we worked with proponents of revolutionary change and devoted community leaders who hold the keys to improving the way we think about, respond to, and treat mental health and addiction issues in the Rio Grande Valley, across America, and around the world.

Tracy J. Yellen

Tracy J. Yellen helped establish the Paso del Norte Community Foundation, which includes the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and a growing philanthropic community. As CEO, she has been instrumental in the Health Foundation’s mission to improve health and prevent disease for the 2.6 million people who call the Paso del Norte region home.

Dr. Tom Insel

Dr. Thomas Insel is a nationally renowned psychiatrist and neuroscientist, co-founder of MindSite News, and a former director of the National Institute of Mental Health. His book, Healing: Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health, was released in February 2022 by Penguin Press.

Dr. Vikram Patel

Years ago, Dr. Vikram Patel saw the potential of empowering non-specialists to deliver mental health care to people who live far from the nearest psychiatrist or psychologist. Today, technology and science have not only made such an approach possible, they have also made it a growing part of the global conversation about how to deliver needed care. And it has a name: EMPOWER.

gratitude for our

supporters

We recognize and appreciate the generosity of our supporters, whose involvement makes it possible for us to do the work we do. We have hope for the future and are working hard to make that future happen, and their support brings us closer to that vision. With humble gratitude, we thank them.

Visionary
The Meadows Foundation, Inc.
Lyda Hill Philanthropies™
The Hackett Family

Benefactor
Charles Butt
The George and Fay Young Foundation
Harold Simmons Foundation
New York Life Foundation
Paso del Norte Health Foundation
Pew Charitable Trusts
The Rees-Jones Foundation
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Deedie Rose

Champion
Episcopal Health Foundation
The Greehey Family Foundation
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
St. David’s Foundation
Wallace Foundation
Wood Next Foundation

Leader
The Powell Foundation
Scharbauer Foundation
Sosozei Foundation
Texoma Health Foundation
University of North Texas at Dallas Foundation

Advocate
All It Takes
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
AT&T Foundation
Bowman Family Foundation
Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation
Chevron
Linda Perryman Evans
Mary Jo Flaherty and Andy Keller
Hackett Family Foundation
Hymowitz Family Foundation
Ippolito Charitable Foundation of Galveston
King Foundation
Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD, LCSW
The Murrell Foundation
Carolyn & Karl Rathjen
Spirit Realty
Taylor Counseling Group
Texas Mutual
Zorich Family Foundation

Community Partners
Austin ED Fund
Alicia D. Smith, LLC
Austin Independent School District
Baylor College of Medicine
Betty Hardwick Center
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Houston
Bluebonnet Trails Community Services
Cardinal 360, LLC
The Center for Integrative Counseling and Psychology
City of Austin
City of Houston
City of San Antonio / Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council
Children’s Health System of Texas
Dallas County
Dell Children’s Medical Center
Easter Seals Greater Houston
El Paso Center for Children
Galveston County
Harris County
Higher ED International
Integral Care
JPS Health Network
LifePath Systems
Metrocare Services
Nueces County
Philanthropy Southwest
Texas Panhandle Center
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Lubbock
University of North Texas Health Science Center
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School
University of Texas Southwestern
University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler
West Texas Counseling & Guidance

Friends
Lenore and William Burke
Coby Chase
Nadine Craddick
Sharon Butterworth
Grant Halliburton Foundation
Henry Harbin, MD
Junior League of Dallas
Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund
Adrienne Kennedy
Becky and John Opperman, PhD
The Richards Group
Stephanie and Phil Ritter
Linda Rosenberg, MSW
James Reeder
Martha and John Ruch
Jeff Wilson
Nancy Woodman

Engage & Excel Partners
Amerigroup
Carrolton Springs Hospital
Cedar Crest Hospital & RTC
Charlie Health
FasPsych
Glen Oaks Hospital
Haven Behavioral Hospital
HEB Central Market
Kingwood Pines Hospital
Mayhill Hospital
Regina Rogers and Kim Phelan
Texoma Health Foundation
Utter Wealth Management Group of Wells
Fargo Advisors
Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation

board of directors

Chair
The Honorable Harriet O’Neill, JD
Chair Elect
Linda Perryman Evans
Secretary
Albert Hawkins
Treasurer
John Opperman, PhD

Board Directors
Sharon Butterworth
Nadine Craddick
The Honorable Robert Earley
Maureen Hackett
Henry Harbin, MD
Adrienne Kennedy, MA
Patsy Woods Martin
Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD, LMSW
The Honorable Lyndon Olson, Jr.
Kim Phelan
Karl Rathjen, MD
The Honorable Renee Rodriguez-Betancourt, JD
Deedie Rose
Linda Rosenberg, MSW
Lisa Rosenbloom
Altha Stewart, MD
Laura Street
Elam Swann
Jeff Wilson, MSHA
Nancy Woodman
The Honorable John M. Zerwas, MD