Tracing the Origin of the Texas Accountable Communities for Health Initiative (TACHI): Selecting the Participant Cohort

This is the second in a blog series chronicling the TACHI journey from planning to implementation.

Shao-Chee Sim

As the Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF) began planning the Texas Accountable Communities for Health Initiative (TACHI) launch, we wanted to identify a cohort of Texas-based community collaboratives that were ready and willing to join us in undertaking this transformative work. We considered several factors in deciding the collaboratives to partner with for TACHI. We were looking for existing collaboratives with a leadership commitment to address community health improvement, a demonstrated history of working across sectors, and a track record of engaging a diverse set of partners and approaches. After issuing a request for information (RFI) and receiving proposals from 11 collaboratives, EHF decided on funding six collaboratives.

The six sites each provide a unique perspective and history that we believe will enrich the Initiative. In line with the belief that addressing community health requires collaboration across diverse sectors, it is essential to highlight that the backbone organization for each site is entirely different. We have a local mental health authority (LMHA), a federally qualified health clinic (FQHC), a community development corporation, a university, and a non-profit Community-Based Organization. The diversity of backbone organizations involved in TACHI will highlight critical lessons about the potential strengths and challenges different organizations face when undertaking collaborative, upstream community health initiatives. 

The participating sites are listed below, along with a brief description of their location in Texas (see map below), along with identification of the backbone organization and other key partners.  

Austin Rundberg TACHI Site 

The Austin Rundberg area is a small, urban community located in the City of Austin bounded by Interstate-35 and Texas State Highway Loop 1 (Mopac Expressway). Lone Star Circle of Care is an FQHC with a clinic in the community and will serve as the backbone for this collaborative. Currently, their partners for the TACHI work include Go Austin/Vamos Austin (GAVA) and Dell Medical School.

Bastrop County TACHI Site 

Bastrop is a fast-growing county in Central Texas located east of the City of Austin. Bastrop County Cares is a non-profit community-based organization that will serve as the backbone for this collaboration. The key partners include Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area, Bastrop Ministerial Alliance, Bastrop ISD, and the Bastrop YMCA.

Brazos Valley TACHI Site 

Brazos Valley is a region in Texas centered around the cities of Bryan and College Station that includes urban and rural counties such as Brazos, Burleson, and Robertson counties. Texas A&M University will serve as the backbone for this collaboration and work alongside CHI St. Joseph Regional Health System, HealthPoint, and Project Unity.

Greater Northside – Houston TACHI Site 

Greater Northside includes a group of majority Latino neighborhoods located directly north of downtown Houston. Avenue is a community development corporation that will serve as the backbone for this collaboration and includes the following key partners Wesley Community Center and Memorial Hermann Community Benefit Corporation. 

Gregg County TACHI Site

Community Healthcore is an LMHA that provides mental health services to nine primarily rural counties in northeast Texas. Community Healthcore will serve as the backbone for a TACHI collaboration serving Gregg County and several neighboring communities. The key partners for the Gregg County TACHI site include Special Health Resources for Texas, City of Longview, Longview Fire Department, CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System, and Longview Regional Medical Center.

Williamson County TACHI Site 

Williamson County is a suburban county located north of the City of Austin. Williamson County and Cities Health District is a governmental public health department that serves as the backbone of the Williamson County TACHI site in partnership with Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, Lone Star Circle of Care, United Way of Williamson County, Georgetown Health Foundation, and Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital.

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