The Texas Integrated Funding Initiative (TIFI) is aimed at developing community-based systems of care for children with severe emotional disturbances and their families. Community-based systems of care are family-focused, accountable for outcomes, and maximize all funding sources, including state, local, and federal dollars. TIFI is directed by the Health and Human Services Commission, in partnership with the TIFI Consortium, and financed through pooled funding from the following participating agencies: Texas Education Agency, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Texas Youth Commission, Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, Texas Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Texas Department of Health. In accordance with SB 1234, the TIFI Consortium includes an equal number of staff and family representatives.
The evaluation of the Texas Integrated Funding Initiative will assess systems change, cost-effectiveness, and child and family outcomes both at the state and local levels. Examples of outcomes to be measured include: (a) decreased incidents of abuse and neglect, (b) reduced recidivism rates of juvenile offenders, (c) increased school attendance and academic progress, (d) reduced rates of residential placement, (e) increased rate of family reunification, (f) improved stability of placements, and (g) increased number of children served with existing funds.