2025 Mental Health & Substance Use Summit

2025 Mental Health & Substance Use Summit

By Texas Coalition for Healthy Minds

A full-day summit bringing together policymakers, advocates, and community leaders to advance mental health and substance use policy.

Date and time

Location

Joe C Thompson Conference Center

2405 Robert Dedman Drive Austin, TX 78712

Agenda

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Registration Opens (Lobby)

Registration opens and a light breakfast will be available off the Lobby in the Oak Room.

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Networking Breakfast

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Morning General Session: Article 2 Overview

This plenary provides a legislative and policy overview of Article 2 of the Texas state budget, which typically covers health and human services. Expect discussion on: Funding allocations for youth m...

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Mental Health and Substance Use in the Middle

This panel will focus on policy and community collaboration to address youth substance use and mental health, especially in the context of public safety. Expect discussion on: Juvenile justice reform...

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Media Skill Builder

Engage in an active session highlighting Media Voices and begin thinking through the tactics of storytelling. How can we engage well with the media?

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Lunch and Networking

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

The Texas Legislature: Where we were and where we are going.

An interactive Q&A session offering insights into legislative processes, advocacy strategies, and opportunities for community engagement in youth mental health policy.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Who’s Left Behind?

This panel addresses geographic disparities in access to care, especially for youth in rural Texas. Topics may include: Telehealth expansion and broadband challenges. Culturally responsive care and c...

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Skill-Builder with Legislative Staffers

Join us for an activating conversation around how to talk with legislative offices when advocating for what you care about from 3 legislative staffers who have been around the block a time or two.

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

From Surviving to Thriving

This panel explores community-level strategies to support youth recovery and mental health. Topics may include: Peer support networks, family engagement, and trauma-informed care. Workforce developme...

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Is AI Helping or Hurting Our Kids?

This panel explores how AI-powered tools—ranging from mental health apps and chatbots to virtual companions and educational platforms—are shaping the emotional and social lives of young people in Te...

Good to know

Highlights

  • 7 hours 30 minutes
  • under 18 with parent or legal guardian
  • In person
  • Free parking
  • Doors at 8:30 AM

Highlights

  • 7 hours 30 minutes
  • under 18 with parent or legal guardian
  • In person
  • Free parking
  • Doors at 8:30 AM

About this event

Health • Mental health

Join Us at the UT-Thompson Conference Center for the TCHM Summit!
Dive into a full day of dynamic panels, expert insights, and meaningful networking focused on behavioral and mental health policy. CE credits will be provided for each session. Panels will spotlight education around funding, skill-building with media and capitol staff, and pressing issues impacting our communities today. Whether you're a policymaker, advocate, professional, or interested in any of these topoics this is your chance to join the conversations that will help the future of how we can approach the issues of mental health and substance use. Be part of the conversation—drive change for the upcoming session!

The event is free, but registration is required.

This is conference is made possible by generous donations from: H.E. Butt Foundation, Methodist Healthcare Ministries, and Hogg Foundation for Mental Health.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of NASW-TX, Continuing Education credits will be available for each session.

Frequently asked questions

Organized by

Texas Coalition for Healthy Minds

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Hosting

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Free
Dec 4 · 8:30 AM CST