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    We've been educating and training the state and nation's health care professionals for more than 130 years. 

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    Patient Care

    Expert care and excellent, caring providers stand ready to serve you, close to where you live and work.

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    Congratulations GSBS and SPPH Graduates

    May 16 Commencement: Livestream Available

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  • researchers collecting specimens

    Research

    Through innovation and discovery, we're carrying solutions to medical challenges from the research bench to the patient bedside. 

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  • UTMB graduation ceremony

    Education

    We've been educating and training the state and nation's health care professionals for more than 130 years. 

    Read More
  • Doctore checking babies heart

    Patient Care

    Expert care and excellent, caring providers stand ready to serve you, close to where you live and work.

    Find Out More
  • group of three graduates smiling in cap and gown

    Congratulations GSBS and SPPH Graduates

    May 16 Commencement: Livestream Available

    Learn More
  • researchers collecting specimens

    Research

    Through innovation and discovery, we're carrying solutions to medical challenges from the research bench to the patient bedside. 

    Read More
 

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An image of a red sad face, a yellow medium face and a green smiley face

Free Mental Health Support for Texas Students Through TCHATT

Through the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) program, members of the University of Texas Medical Branch Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department provide free mental health services to students in school districts across the region.

TCHATT is an initiative of the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium, which was established by the state legislature in 2019 to address urgent mental health challenges and improve the mental health care system for children and adolescents in Texas.

A school-based telemedicine service that provides mental health support to students at no cost to the student, their family or the participating school districts, TCHATT is available to students ages four to 21 enrolled in participating school districts.

“Every school in Texas has access to this if they choose to,” said Dr. Kimberly Gushanas, assistant professor and licensed psychologist with UTMB. “Some schools have opted out but a very large amount of schools have been covered, in our area specifically.”

To initiate and utilize services, a referral to UTMB TCHATT must start with the school counselor. Assuming parents and guardians consent, the student is then connected with a child and adolescent mental health clinician for an assessment followed by a limited number of visits. Parental/guardian consent is not required for students 18 years of age or older.

All UTMB TCHATT visits are virtual, with the option for a school-based or a home-based appointment. Initial evaluations last approximately 90 minutes, with all follow-up visits being between 30 minutes to an hour.

Over 4 million youth across Texas have access to TCHATT, which works to identify and assess the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents and provide access to mental health services.

The services through the program are focused on targeted interventions, Gushanas says, they also work hard to connect people to other resources available to them in the community.

Though offered through school districts, the program is not dependent on school being in session and runs year-roun

For more information, visit the TCMHCC page within the UTMB website.

UTMB in the News

An image of a red sad face, a yellow medium face and a green smiley face

Free Mental Health Support for Texas Students Through TCHATT

Through the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) program, members of the University of Texas Medical Branch Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department provide free mental health services to students in school districts across the region.

TCHATT is an initiative of the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium, which was established by the state legislature in 2019 to address urgent mental health challenges and improve the mental health care system for children and adolescents in Texas.

A school-based telemedicine service that provides mental health support to students at no cost to the student, their family or the participating school districts, TCHATT is available to students ages four to 21 enrolled in participating school districts.

“Every school in Texas has access to this if they choose to,” said Dr. Kimberly Gushanas, assistant professor and licensed psychologist with UTMB. “Some schools have opted out but a very large amount of schools have been covered, in our area specifically.”

To initiate and utilize services, a referral to UTMB TCHATT must start with the school counselor. Assuming parents and guardians consent, the student is then connected with a child and adolescent mental health clinician for an assessment followed by a limited number of visits. Parental/guardian consent is not required for students 18 years of age or older.

All UTMB TCHATT visits are virtual, with the option for a school-based or a home-based appointment. Initial evaluations last approximately 90 minutes, with all follow-up visits being between 30 minutes to an hour.

Over 4 million youth across Texas have access to TCHATT, which works to identify and assess the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents and provide access to mental health services.

The services through the program are focused on targeted interventions, Gushanas says, they also work hard to connect people to other resources available to them in the community.

Though offered through school districts, the program is not dependent on school being in session and runs year-roun

For more information, visit the TCMHCC page within the UTMB website.

About UTMB

The University of Texas Medical Branch established in 1891 as the University of Texas Medical Department, has grown from one building, 23 students and 13 faculty members to a modern health science center with more than 70 major buildings, more than 2,500 students and more than 1,000 faculty. Read more about UTMB»

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