Partnership Across Distance: The Texas Panhandle
From Into the Fold: the Mental Health Podcast by Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
March 18, 2026 · 52 min · Season 13
About this episode
The episode discusses the impact of distance on mental health care in rural Texas and the partnerships aimed at improving access to care.
In rural communities, distance shapes everything - e.g. distance to the nearest hospital; distance to a licensed counselor; or distance to broadband access. When it comes to mental health care, those distances can become barriers.But what if distance didn’t mean disconnection? What if partnerships could stretch across counties and communities — aligning resources so that rural Texans don’t have to navigate care alone?” Recently, the Hogg Foundation launched its Strengthening Mental Health in Rural and Rural Border Texas Communities initiative designed to strengthen access to care in rural Texas communities. Two of the grantee sites were co-funded in partnership with the Amarillo Area Foundation and the Bivens Foundation — organizations deeply rooted in the Texas Panhandle. Joining us for a conversation about this initiative and what it means for the rural Panhandle are Lara Escobar of the Amarillo Area Foundation and Kathryn Wiegand of the Bivens Foundation, along with Hogg Foundation senior program officers Rick Ybarra and Tammy Heinz. Related Links Hogg Funding Opportunities: Libraries Supporting Community Mental Health Arts and Humanities Research Grants for Early Career…
People in this episode
Guests: Lara Escobar, Kathryn Wiegand, Rick Ybarra, Tammy Heinz
Topics covered
- mental health
- rural communities
- partnerships
- access to care
Keywords
- Texas Panhandle
- mental health care
- rural access
- community resources
Mentioned in this episode
Products: Strengthening Mental Health in Rural and Rural Border Texas Communities initiative
Books & works: Strengthening Mental Health in Rural and Rural Border Texas Communities
Places: The Texas Panhandle, Texas, Panhandle
More episodes of Into the Fold: the Mental Health Podcast
- Policy: Telling Your Story · April 22, 2026 · 34 min
- Policy: What's in It for Me? · April 8, 2026 · 48 min
- Beyond the Bed: Care as Partnership · February 20, 2026 · 40 min
- Faith as a Mental Health Partner · January 15, 2026 · 24 min
- Mutual Aid, Mutual Respect · December 17, 2025 · 29 min
- Let Community Drive the Work · December 10, 2025 · 33 min
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