Austin Travis County Integral Care Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015 | Page 14

MOMENTS TO REMEMBER
Bridging the Gap
The 13th Annual New Milestones Foundation Bridging the Gap
Gala, held November 13, 2014 at the Four Seasons, brought
together more than 400 people who gave generously to “bridge
the gap” in services for those in our community with mental illness,
intellectual or developmental disabilities or substance use disorder.
Matched dollar for dollar by a state of Texas grant, our donors met
the challenge to raise more than $85,000, with the first $50,000
earmarked for Integral Care’s Housing First Oak Springs complex.

Substance Use Coalition
In August 2014, Integral Care established a coalition to address
substance use disorder in our community and advocate for improved
policies and funding. The coalition included representatives from
local government, healthcare, schools and the criminal justice system
as well as community members with lived experience. The Travis
County Plan for Substance Use Disorder, released in August 2015,
includes recommendations in four key areas: education, prevention,
recovery and system integration. It serves as a first step to strengthen
access to supports for substance use disorder in Travis County.

Cultural Competency
Cultural competency training is a nationally recognized strategy
to improve providers’ awareness of bias and quality of care for
individuals affected by health disparities. Participants learn and
practice skills that increase self-awareness and cultural sensitivity
to prepare them to work with diverse clients and coworkers. The
training explores difficult topics such as racism, heterosexism and
other forms of discrimination that affect a person’s care experience
and quality of life. In 2015, Integral Care trained 225 staff from 12
departments in Cultural Competency.

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