Home > About Us > Press Release November 1, 2010 Hill Country Community MHMR Center Selected for National Pilot Program to Improve How People with Schizophrenia Function in Their Daily Lives As One of Ten Pilot Sites, Hill Country Community MHMR Center will Focus on Tactics to Increase Patients’ Independence, Reduce Stigma and Broaden Understanding of a Serious and Complex Mental Illness Hill Country Community MHMR Center (Hill Country) today announced it has been named as one of 10 mental health centers nationwide to pilot an eight-month program designed to advance standards of care for people living with schizophrenia.  Hill Country joins nine other community behavioral health organizations nationwide to engage in efforts to improve the daily functioning of people with schizophrenia and raise expectations for what is achievable. Hill Country has served the Blanco County area since 1997, providing clinical and community-based services for individuals living with an array of mental and behavioral health illnesses.  Participating in this pilot program focused on schizophrenia, however, is particularly meaningful as nearly 10% of the individuals treated for mental health issues at Hill Country suffer from the disease. “Too many of the 2.4 million Americans with schizophrenia are left behind when it comes to their care, their inclusion in our communities, and their recovery.  It’s time to expect more,” said Linda J. Werlein, Chief Executive Officer of Hill Country.  “Participating in this national pilot program means Hill Country will help lead the nation in taking the standard of care to a whole new level – one that focuses more effectively on improving how people function in their daily live.” The pilot program, “Advancing Standards of Care for People with Schizophrenia,” will utilize new tools and resources to help people with schizophrenia feel more independent and accomplish the things he or she needs or wants to do on any given day, such as going to the library, visiting a local Y or sharing a meal with a friend.  This new approach will rely on a consistent use of the Daily Living Activities (DLA-20) tool – an interactive assessment that the mental health professional and patient will complete together to track how the person is functioning. According to mental health experts, this improvement in day-to-day functioning is a critical first step towards more complete self directed disease management.  The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council), the national umbrella group running the program, will provide Hill Country with ongoing technical assistance that draws on the expertise of an expert advisory panel of national thought leaders in behavioral healthcare. “When it comes to helping people with schizophrenia, low expectations and limited resources have resulted in our treating the disease and not the person,” said Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO of the National Council.  “The ‘Advancing Standards of Care’ program brings a real opportunity to strengthen and enhance the care we can provide to people with schizophrenia.  With tools that focus on how a person is functioning, we can make meaningful improvements in the lives of people with schizophrenia and their caregivers.” Pilot sites in the program include: •    AltaPointe Health Systems, Inc., Mobile, AL •    AtlantiCare Behavioral Health, Egg Harbor Township, NJ •    Cobb & Douglas Community Services Board, Smyrna, GA •    Family Guidance Center for Behavioral Healthcare, Saint Joseph, MO •    Gallahue Mental Health Services, Indianapolis, IN •    Hill Country Community MHMR Center, Kerrville, TX •    Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois, Springfield, IL •    Recovery Resources, Cleveland, OH •    Seminole Behavioral Healthcare, Fern Park, FL •    Spokane Mental Health, Spokane, WA