Early psychosis intervention network in texas (epinet-TX): fostering connection and community

The National Institute of Mental Health awarded the University of Texas at Austin $1.633 million on September 1, 2026, under the Mental Health Research Grants program (CFDA 93.242) to establish and operate an administrative research core supporting the Early Psychosis Intervention Network in Texas (EPINET-TX), a learning health system focused on coordinated specialty care for individuals experiencing early psychosis.

The award funds development of standardized data collection systems, data-driven decision-making infrastructure, measurement-based care protocols, participatory action research methods, and quality improvement processes across 15 community mental health coordinated specialty care sites in Texas. The core will leverage data collected through EPINET-TX's core assessment battery to examine the impact of social connection and belonging on symptom and functioning outcomes among individuals receiving coordinated specialty care. EPINET-TX, established in 2020 as a partnership between the University of Texas at Austin and 15 community mental health CSC sites, has previously delivered system-level and program-level improvements through standardized data collection, published research, workforce trainings, and tool development addressing early psychosis practice and outcomes.

Performance occurs in Austin, Texas, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2030. The assistance type is a Project Grant.

Abstract

Psychosis is a significant public health issue, with an estimated 100,000 new incidences each year. Psychosis tends to begin between 18 and 25 and can significantly disrupt individuals' lives, leading to long-term disability. To prevent these outcomes, the US has rapidly invested in coordinated specialty care (CSC). CSC is a robust, multidisciplinary, team-based intervention shown to result in better outcomes. Today, the US has over 430 CSC programs. Due to the rapid deployment of CSC to address early psychosis (EP), many critical questions remain to optimize CSC engagement and outcomes for young people experiencing EP, especially for disadvantaged and rural communities. The learning health systems (LHS) framework provides an opportunity to leverage the rapid expansion of CSC programs to promote on-going quality improvement and health services research aimed at addressing areas where research is lacking or outcomes suboptimal. Epinet-TX is an LHS that was established in 2020 between 15 community mental health CSC sites in texas and the university of texas at austin. Through standardized data collection and participatory action research methods, epinet-TX has fostered system- and program-level improvements across texas and contributed to the scientific knowledge and practice of EP through publications, presentations, workforce trainings and EP tools. The following project aims have been proposed: (1) to facilitate a learning health system through the development of an administrative research core to support standardized data collection, data-driven decision making, measurement-based care, participatory action research, and quality improvement. (2) to utilize data from the core assessment battery collected through epinet-TX to understand the impact of social connection and belonging on symptom and functioning outcomes among individuals receiving CSC services, as well as moderators and mediators of change in social connection over the course of treatment. (3) to adapt and study a community navigation intervention that aims to increase or enhance positive social connections for individuals with serious mental illness.