Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

The meeting began with a presentation from the Georgia Council for Recovery, featuring a personal recovery story shared by Ms. Jasmine Turner. Key action items approved by the Board included the minutes from the August 28, 2025, meeting, consideration of an Easement Amendment for Southern Natural Gas, and the Northeast Georgia Health System Resolution. The Commissioner's Report included updates on suicide prevention efforts, such as the Annual Teen Summit and community outreach, as well as key initiatives in substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery. Statistics from the Georgia Recovery Bus Tour were presented, noting that the Department is partnering to equip every Georgia public school with opioid overdose reversal kits. A presentation highlighted peer support and recovery programs at Northeast Georgia Health Center, including specialized programs for substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department. The Chairman's Report reinforced the importance of Board member community involvement and acknowledged contributors to successful programs.

The 2025 Annual Report by the Georgia Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission provides recommendations for significant improvements to the state's behavioral health system. Key priority areas include building capacity for a full continuum of services, developing a robust and skilled workforce, expanding effective community-based programs, and streamlining existing policies and statutes. These recommendations aim to address pressing challenges, improve access to care, enhance service delivery, and promote best practices across Georgia's behavioral health landscape.

The board meeting included several reports, such as the Commissioner's Report, which detailed updates on Community Residential Alternative, Crisis Services & Diagnostics Center, the IDD Workgroup, a new waiver overview, and the DBHDD & Therap Services Partnership. Action items included the approval of the previous month's meeting minutes, the proposed 2026 meeting schedule, and the Cindy Levi Resolution. A significant portion of the discussion centered on the DBHDD comprehensive strategy for Complex Care Need (CCN) individuals within the IDD service continuum, covering different Community Residential Alternative (CRA) models (Behavior-Focused, Intensive, Specialized Transitional) and the Crisis Service and Diagnostic Center (CSDC). Furthermore, the IDD Workgroup presented progress on implementing recommendations from the Senate Study Committee and Guidehouse Reports through subcommittees focusing on the Assessment Tool, Planning List, and New Waiver.

The meeting agenda included several key subject areas for discussion and potential action. These areas comprised subcommittee overviews and recommendations concerning Hospital and Short-Term Care Facilities, Addictive Diseases (including Recovery Residences Licensure), Mental Health Courts and Corrections (including Database Linkage), and the Forensic Competency Advisory Committee. Further discussion points involved Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (including IDD Workgroup Overview and GVRA Services) and Children and Adolescents Behavioral Health. The session concluded with general Commission Discussion and Possible Action on Recommendations, followed by Public Comments and Closing Remarks.

The meeting included updates on the BHCC initiatives such as Mindworks Georgia and MATCH. Interagency collaboration was discussed, focusing on planning for young adults with complex needs. The agenda covered action items including the approval of the August 5, 2025 meeting minutes, the proposed 2026 meeting schedule, the BHCC 2024 Annual Report, and the BHCC Bylaws. Also covered was the progress of the System of Care State Plan update, the State Data Availability, and Local Interagency Planning Team (LIPTs).