Our History

Tri-County Mental Health Mental Retardation Services (MHMR) opened in 1983 as the 31st community MHMR center in Texas serving Montgomery, Liberty and Walker counties. The Board of Trustees had spent the prior year writing a plan for development and upon approval by the Texas Department of MHMR, we opened on September 1, 1983. Tri-County began its first year of operation with an executive director, a program director, an administrative assistant, and eleven staff who had been transferred from Rusk State Hospital.

Initially the Center only offered outpatient mental health counseling and psychiatric services, but the service array expanded very quickly. By the end of fiscal year 1984, Tri-County MHMR Services was offering classes for people with alcohol dependence, providing diagnosis and evaluation services for people with mental retardation, contracted in-patient psychiatric services, crisis resolution services, and jobs for people with mental impairments through a contract with the Texas Department of Highways. The budget had grown to almost $1.5 million, and there were 46 employees.

Today, Tri-County has grown to a more than $19 million system serving over 5,000 people each year with more than 230 employees. Tri-County now offers a vast and diversified array of service options. The Center’s staff now includes board certified psychiatrists, licensed social workers, advanced practice nurses, physician’s assistants, counselors, registered and licensed vocational nurses, mental health and mental retardation professionals and paraprofessionals and a highly competent administration staff.

Today’s Tri-County has grown and kept pace with the latest in treatment, but we still like to help one person at a time to work toward their brighter tomorrows.