Central Health, CommUnityCare, and Integral Care Present Joint Plan to Connect ‘Islands of Care’ in Travis County

AUSTIN, Texas — Leaders from Central Health, Integral Care, and CommUnityCare Health Centers presented a unified strategy to the Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, outlining a coordinated roadmap for the fragmented behavioral health system in Travis County.

For years, patients navigating between physical and mental health care have faced disconnected systems, often leading to delayed treatment. The three organizations presented a new “Four Quadrant Model” designed to close these gaps by matching patients with the right provider based on the complexity of their needs.

“Too many people with behavioral health needs experience care that feels disconnected and that can cause real harm,” said Dr. Pat Lee, Central Health president and CEO. “By coordinating more intentionally across our three organizations, we can reduce duplication, smooth transitions, and improve timely access to care and support.”

Key Highlights from the Presentation:

• Connecting the ‘Islands of Care’: Central Health, CommUnityCare, and Integral Care outlined a coordinated, county-wide approach to integrating their services. The new model builds bridges, so clinical records and care teams are more visible to one another.
• New Coordinating Council: A “Behavioral Health Continuum Coordinating Council” comprising leaders from all three organizations will meet every two weeks to drive long-term planning and activate work groups and task forces when needed.
• Unified Goals: The partners have already aligned their efforts on crisis response, housing support, and data sharing to ensure efficiency.

“The need in our community is greater than ever, and demand for our services continues to grow. We’ve reached a pivotal moment that calls for collaboration, leveraging our collective strengths, and addressing these challenges through a more coordinated, systemic approach,” said Jeff Richardson, CEO of Integral Care.

The presentation reaffirmed the shared mission between the three organizations to “connect the islands of care,” ensuring that Travis County residents can easily navigate the services they need, regardless of where they enter the system.

“This is the most encouraging briefing that I have heard since being on the Commissioners Court,” said Commissioner Brigid Shea. “I’m very excited to see your commitment to continuing to work out the barriers and to provide remarkable service and care for people in our community.”

Presentation Resources:

Download the presentation: https://cdn.intelligencebank.com/us/share/BnK4M4/74AZO/bBbyk/original/12.09.25_IC+CuC+CH+Joint+Presentation+to+TCCC

Watch the presentation at the Commissioners Court: https://traviscotx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2620/media

About Integral Care

Integral Care is the Local Mental Health and Intellectual & Developmental Disability Authority for Travis County. It currently operates more than 40 service locations across Travis County offering a 24/7 helpline, ongoing counseling, drug and alcohol treatment, housing assistance, crisis services, and a wide range of social supports.