CSB Honorable Mentions

CSB HONORABLE MENTIONS

Just in! The National Council has release images from their 2011 Conference in San Diego California. Below, Dr. Tom Ford, CEO of Lookout Mountain CSB with Former President Bill Clinton.

Marianne Wilson - 20+ years of service with DeKalb CSB Celebrating 20+ years of faithful service… congratulations to Marianne Wilson! She started with the Board of Health and worked at our DeKalb Evaluation Clinic before coming to DeKalb CSB’s Administration.

Cobb Community Services Boards Demonstrates Measurable Results in New National Pilot to Help People with Schizophrenia Evidence-Based Tools Help Improve Daily Functioning and Increase Treatment Transparency and Accountability March 15, 2012 – PILOT SITE LOCATION – Cobb Community Services Boards today announced the completion of a new, evidence-based clinical pilot program that demonstrated improved functioning for people with schizophrenia. As one of 10 community behavioral health organizations to participate, Cobb Community Services Boards found that the use of standardized, evidenced-based tools as a consistent part of routine care helped more effectively measure their clients’ progress. The program, Advancing Standards of Care for People with Schizophrenia, was spearheaded by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council). 36 individuals completed the program at Cobb Community Services Board, which has served Cobb County since 1994. At Cobb Community Services Board, 10% of individuals treated are diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, making the pilot program a particularly valuable endeavor. “We are all adapting to health care system changes that recognize the value of care over volume of care,” said Michelle Robison, Project Director, at Cobb Community Services Board. “This program provided both effective tools and a way to demonstrate improvements in care.” The program revolved around two evidence-based tools: a group curriculum to help adults better understand and self-manage their mental health condition; and a functional assessment tool, which tracks a person’s ability to independently carry out everyday tasks including nutrition and money management. The tools encourage participants to take control of their mental illness, discuss it with others and monitor progress. Participants said they found this helpful in addressing the misconceptions others may have about them. Tod Citron, Executive Director of the Cobb Community Services Board, believes that the program’s success has the potential to leave a positive effect on Cobb’s local community. “This program is showing how people with schizophrenia can become more independent and productive in their daily functioning,” Citron explained. “That makes them better prepared to manage their mental and physical health, and helps reduce the amount of time they might otherwise spend in emergency care. It also potentially represents progress in confronting the lack of understanding of schizophrenia faced by people with the mental illness. That’s a true step forward not only for our clients and the professionals who care for them, but also the community as a whole.” Key Results: • The 10 pilot sites started with a total of 568 clients in December, 2010. o The average age of participants was 45.7 years, many of whom had already been in treatment for years o 20 percent of participants scored an “inability to function in all areas” on the pre-interventional functional assessment o 50 percent of participants scored “major impairment” in at least five critical areas of functioning in daily activities • The average cumulative functional score from all participants rose from an initial 37.76 to 41.07 over the course of six months. • Overall, there was a statistically significant gain in three sub-scales: communications, interaction with one’s social network, and coping skills. • There was an overall attrition rate of 48 percent, consistent with community based treatment protocols. A full list of pilot sites participating in the program and a copy of the outcomes report from the Advancing Standards of Care for People with Schizophrenia program can be found at: www.thenationalcouncil.org. About Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that can impair a person’s ability to think clearly and relate to others. People with schizophrenia may become withdrawn or have difficulty in everyday situations. Schizophrenia typically develops in adolescence or early adulthood, although it may occur later in life. Schizophrenia varies in severity, can be treated and recovery is possible. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 03/15/12 Cobb Community Services Board 3830 South Cobb Drive Suite 300 Smyrna, GA mrobison@cobbcsb.com 770-655-2756

GACSB/TCC LEARNING COLLABORATIVE ON SERVICES INTEGRATION JOINT TIER I/II TRAINING SESSION Tuesday, February 7, 2012 Speakers: a. Robyn Garrett-Gunnoe, GACSB b. Amy Hall, Healthcare Georgia Foundation c. Ben Druss, MD MPH, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University d. Fariborz Zaer, MD, Curtis Cooper FQHC & Stanley Williams, LPC, PhD/ABD, Gateway BHS In partnership with:

December 15, 2011 GACSB and GCSA TANF Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Robyn Garrett-Gunnoe, Executive Director, GACSB (912) 312-3205; rgunnoe@shpllc.com Neil Kaltenecker, Executive Director, GCSA (404)-523-3440; neil@gasubstanceabuse.org US House restores a portion of TANF funding for FY’ 2012. Senate to Vote on Dec 16. TANF Supplemental grants are still left on the cutting room floor. ATLANTA, GA – Women and children across Georgia may have been saved hardship and displacement in 2012 due to action by the US House of Representatives, which voted to restore a portion of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant program on Tuesday. Representatives from the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards (GACSB) and the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse (GCSA) expressed their appreciation to members of the House and ask Georgia’s US Senators to act likewise this week during an expected vote on the program. “We want to thank those members who voted to support those most in need,” said Robyn Garrett-Gunnoe, GACSB Executive Director. “Without TANF funds, our outpatient and residential programs will suffer. As a result, you will see a cost shift into the criminal justice system, foster care system, public assistance system, and healthcare system.” Yesterday’s vote unfortunately represents only a partial restoration of former TANF funding levels. In addition to the block grants, which were approved in H. R. 3630, TANF Supplemental grants help fund community based recovery programs, provided by community service boards (CSBs) and other private addictive diseases agencies. The providers who receive TANF funds are committed to removing substance abuse as a barrier to employment, encourage family preservation, and divert incarceration. “We need the Senate to act on the block grants now and for Congress to come back immediately and work to restore the vital Supplemental grants as well,” said Neil Kaltenecker, GCSA Executive Director. “Georgia Advocates, providers, individuals living in recovery, and family members have been voicing the importance of the legislature’s support. We hope our united voices will continue to resonate.” ABOUT GACSB: For more than 30 years, Georgia Association of Community Service Board (GACSB) members have led the development and operation of cost effective, high quality, mental health, developmental disability and addictive disease services in Georgia. With 26 member organizations providing community based care across the state, the GACSB is dedicated to its mission of promoting the exchange of information, representing its members on legislative and administrative matters, and campaigning for the highest quality of life for consumers of mental health, developmental disability and addictive disease services. To learn more, please visit our website at www.gacsb.org. ABOUT GCSA: The Georgia Council on Substance Abuse is a nonprofit advocacy organization with the overall mission to reduce the impact of substance abuse in Georgia communities. For the past 11 years the GCSA has been dedicated to strengthening communities by promoting quality addiction prevention and treatment practices, and by supporting public policy that not only reduces the stigma associated with addiction, but also supports the development and implementation of a strong prevention, treatment and recovery services system. We have an active Board of Directors representing the business, criminal justice, and education, prevention, treatment and recovery communities. To learn more, please visit our website at www.gasubstanceabuse.org.

New Horizons, Chief Executive Officer Quoted in Article Georgia health commissioner discussing soldiers, veterans at conference By BEN WRIGHT - benw@ledger-enquirer.com The commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is at a conference in Washington this week focusing on soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. “The purpose of this conference is to coordinate resources and prepare communities to receive and serve returning veterans and their families from Afghanistan and Iraq, the various places where they have been active,” said Commissioner Frank Shelp. Last year, Shelp said the state agency served 2,500 veterans and expects to serve 1,000 this year. With conditions like post-traumatic stress syndrome, substance abuse and drugs, there is a heightened increase for mental health needs for soldiers. “This is really a larger issue that involves veterans,” he said. Shelp said officials from nine states are sharing their thoughts and strategies on how to coordinate services. Sherman Whitfield, executive director of the New Horizons Community Service Board in Columbus, said the local agency serves about 100 to 150 new cases every year. That number has picked up in recent years with wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Many of the clients are soldiers who have served one, two or three deployments. Many come back with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain disorder and also have marital relationship issues. Some soldiers will be leaving the military at Fort Benning, after returning from deployment. A number of soldiers need services from the local agency, Whitfield said. “We do serve soldiers and families,” Whitfield said. Sometimes, children have behavioral issues and are emotionally disturbed. Without a Veterans Affairs hospital in Columbus and services available in Tuskegee, Ala., and Atlanta, Whitfield said the local office works with VA hospitals. “We work with VA hospitals the best we can,” she said. “Those numbers easily will double, probably more than that. If they come here in need of services, we have to provide.” Most active-duty soldiers are served on post but occasionally some are served at New Horizons. “Some are not comfortable going on post,” she said. “They are afraid it might have some reflection on service.” Treatment for post-traumatic stress takes a number of sessions. “It takes a long time to work with someone suffering from PTSDs and traumatic brain injury that’s is a whole different level,” Whitfield said. “That is a long-term treatment.” Shelp said strategies at the conference, which ends today, also will address funding. “Georgia is strapped for resources,” he said. “We will be making a point that the strategy has to be more than good intentions.” Read more: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/12/09/1851234/georgia-department-of-behavioral.html#ixzz1gIEB3U5A

November 30, 2011 Funding for Dalton addiction treatment center in doubt Charles Oliver charlesoliver@daltoncitizen.com — Highland Rivers CEO Jason Bearden says the past couple of weeks have been a “roller coaster” for staff and patients at the New Hope Women’s Center in Dalton. The center provides residential alcohol and drug abuse treatment for about a half dozen women and their children, and outpatient treatment to 15 to 20 more women and their children. But that program and the Women’s Outreach Center that Highland Rivers runs in Rome are funded by the federal Temporary Assistance to Families in Need (TANF) program, which expired earlier this year. “The program was up for renewal back in June, but it wasn’t renewed. I don’t think there was an actual vote, and nobody knew about it. I don’t think the state found out about it until early or late fall. But the cut actually took place July 1, so the state was three months or so into their fiscal year and had spent that money. And by the time we found out we were almost six months in,” Bearden said. “They came to us and said, ‘We are going to have to cut deeper to make up for the money we’ve already spent.’” But just two days later state officials told Highland Rivers they had found money elsewhere in the budget to keep funding the Dalton and Rome programs until June 30, 2012. “We had told the women we serve, ‘In four weeks you have to find another place to live and find a new treatment plan and find a way to stay away from the issues you have to deal with,’” Bearden said. “And of course, we had told our staff they were out of a job as of Jan 1. Two days later, we tell them that everything is on hold until July.” Highland Rivers offers mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities services in 11 Georgia counties, including Whitfield and Murray. The agency’s executive offices are in Dalton. Bearden said Highland Rivers runs one of the largest combined residential and outpatient addiction programs in the state. “Many programs across the state have just one or the other. They have the residential without the outpatient or the outpatient without the residential,” he said. Data provided by Highland Rivers show that 71 percent of those who take part in the residential program have a job before they leave the program and 79 percent who complete the outpatient program have a job. In addition, 100 percent of pregnant mothers who complete both programs deliver drug-free babies. Conasauga Drug Court Coordinator Michele Pirkle said if the New Hope center is closed it will make it harder for Drug Court to offer women charged with drug offenses an alternative to prison. “It’s a very valuable resource. We refer several women a year to them, usually young mothers with addiction problems,” she said. “If it closes, it means that we would have to look for resources outside our community, and in some cases those are a considerable distance away.” Whitfield County Juvenile Court Judge Connie Blaylock said New Hope has helped reunite many women with their children. “A large portion of the time, maybe a majority, when children have been removed from their parents and placed in foster care or with other family members it is because of drug problems,” she said. “It has been very beneficial to have a local program with both inpatient and outpatient care to help those mothers work through their issues and be reunited with their children.” In addition to drug treatment, New Hope provides family counseling, parenting classes, anger management classes, help with job searches and nursing assessments for the women it treats and their children. Data provided by Highland Rivers show the average cost of the program is $5.48 a day per patient for outpatient services and $10.11 a day for residential services. “The good news is that we have six months to make a case for these programs, and I think we can show that they are more cost effective than prison or foster care,” Bearden said. http://daltondailycitizen.com/local/x1202024378/Funding-for-Dalton-addiction-treatment-center-in-doubt

ViewPoint CSB Explains “Total Care Perspective” Going beyond the treatment room to guide and change lives… http://www.rockdalecitizen.com/news/2011/sep/17/grn-community-service-board-gets-new-name-mission/

Highland Rivers CSB Peer Groups Help Fill void in NW GA http://romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/15566338/article-Peers-provide-hope-for-those-with-mental-illness?instance=home_news_lead

Rivers Edge CSB Partners on “Promise Neighborhood” for Macon’s At-Risk Children http://www.macon.com/2011/09/18/1706567/school-success-what-will-it-take.html

Highland Rivers CSB provides hope and a home for former NWGH residents http://romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/15665813/article-A-quiet-place-to-live--A-mental-health-patient-is-making-progress-living-on-his-own?instance=home_news_lead_story

Rivers Edge CSB: “There is Hope. We will help you. CSBs provide low to no cost mental health care.” http://www.13wmaz.com/news/article/144438/175/GET-ANSWERS-Affordable-Mental-Health-Care

Highland Rivers Community Service Board Helps North Georgians in Crisis http://romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/15321315/article-Units-helps-patients-in-crisis?instance=home_news

IT WAS A SUCCESS!

Service Impact Felt by People with Developmental Disabilities by GACSB President Ralph Herndon August 19, 2011 http://www.prlog.org/11630116

Georgia's Community Service Boards add facilities in North Georgia Communities August 18, 2011 http://www.northfulton.com/Articles-c-2011-04-13-186733.114126-sub-Crisis-stabilization-care-facility-opens-in-North-Georgia.html

GACSB and Crisis Intervention Training news in the Vidalia Advance! August 10, 2011 http://www.theadvancenews.com/

GACSB partners with TeleConnect GA to improve rural healthcare August 2, 2011 http://albanyceo.com/news/2011/08/businesses-working-improve-healthcare-outcomes-georgians/

Avita Community Partners From Addiction to Recovery, 16-Year-Old Gainesville Teen Beats Drug Addiction, Gangs, Turns Life Around GAINESVILLE, GA (July 25, 2011) – Sixteen-year-old Christian Alvarado used to live to get high. His days consisted of smoking pot, skipping school and breaking into neighbor’s homes so he would have enough money to buy his next joint. He hung out with violent gangs that used knives, machetes and chains to fight rival gangs. But thanks to the help of a minister who believed in him and a unique counseling program at Avita Community Partners’ Gainesville Clubhouse, Christian turned his life around. The Gainesville Clubhouse, one of 11 in the state, is a place where adolescents can be themselves and learn how to have fun without alcohol or other drugs. They use the 7 Challenges Program, a research-based approach, which takes the blame out of drug abuse and focuses on honesty, responsibility, goal-setting and decision-making. “We teach youths that the choices they make come with responsibility and that there are consequences with every decision, positive or negative,” said John Hanson, program director. “This treatment approach encourages them to think, ‘maybe my drug and alcohol use does have something to do with why I’m doing badly in school or why I’m in jail.’ We try to teach them to draw their own conclusions based on their decisions.” The key to the program is peer sharing in which youths share their stories with their peers in a safe environment. The Clubhouse also provides individual therapy, family sessions, substance abuse education and relapse prevention. The program recently hired a Spanish-speaking family advocate who visits families and neighborhoods to reach out and inform them about the Clubhouse, since most of the teens involved in the program are Spanish-speaking. Down the road, the Clubhouse hopes to build a website and social media presence to encourage communication, as well as community collaboration. Christian started using marijuana when he was 9, and became more involved when he turned 11. From ages 11-15, he said he was “not sober at all,” using a mixture of pot, alcohol and pills. “I loved getting high, and I wanted to get higher,” he said. “I started using more expensive pot, and when I ran out of money, I started stealing from my parents, neighbors and stores. “I am not the person now that I was then,” he recalled. “I was going crazy with it. At one point, I overdosed with pills and liquor and had to go to the hospital. My mom came into my room and was crying. I never liked seeing her cry.” Christian started coming to Avita a year and a half ago after he was sent by a probation officer following an arrest. Most of the Clubhouse referrals come from the Hall County Juvenile Court in Gainesville, with anticipated referrals from the Georgia Department of Family and Children’s Services and area schools. As a result of his progress, Christian has become a peer support specialist and one of the star graduates. Today, he has a job in an auto parts store and dreams of becoming a movie director or music producer. A couple he met at church has told him they would pay for college. “I’m happy my life is going the way it is,” he said. “I’ve got my goals set to finish high school, go to college, and after I graduate, I want to travel the world. Then, I want to go to Hollywood to become a movie producer.” # # #

Avita Community Partners Announces Opening of Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) *Facility Will Serve Individuals with Behavioral Health and* *Substance Abuse Disorders in Georgia* FLOWERY BRANCH, GA (March 31, 2011) – Avita Community Partners today announces the opening of a 16-bed crisis stabilization unit that will provide short-term residential psychiatric care and substance abuse detoxification for adults in Georgia. The facility officially opens April 1 to serve clients. Located at 4331 Thurmond Tanner Parkway in Flowery Branch, Georgia, the facility employs approximately 25 staff members, including psychiatrists, nurses, counselors, medical assistants, and health care technicians. Dr. Karim Gokal, a board-certified psychiatrist, serves as medical director of the CSU and Avita Community Partners. “We are excited to offer this important service to the community,” said Cheryl Barnet, interim CEO, Avita Community Partners, a non-profit organization that serves persons with behavioral health, developmental disabilities and addictive diseases in North Georgia. “This is an attractive, state-of-the-art facility that will add t our continuum of services for persons with behavioral health care needs in our community.” Faye Taylor, president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Cumming, said, “We applaud the efforts taken in opening the Avita Crisis Stabilization Unit to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. The Avita CSU will help fill the gap in needed services in the North Georgia area.” The Avita Crisis Stabilization Unit operates 24-hours a day, seven days a week and serves adults only. Short-term residential psychiatric crisis care and medical detoxification is provided in a safe, therapeutic environment. Program services include medical care, client education and counseling, as well as referral and linkage for follow-up care and other community services. The opening of the Avita Crisis Stabilization Unit is part of Georgia’s efforts to expand access to community-based services for persons with behavioral health, developmental disabilities and addictive diseases. “The Avita Crisis Stabilization Unit provides a cost-effective alternative to hospitalization with a focus on retaining connections to family and community,” said Frank E. Shelp, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. “This is a key part of a spectrum of services we are putting in place to serve people closer to home.” Avita Community Partners will continue its partnership with the Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s Laurelwood facility in Gainesville to ensure coordination of services for individuals with behavioral health and addictive diseases who need inpatient care. “We have had an excellent community partner in Avita for the last 10 plus years,” said Reese Daniel, business development manager, Laurelwood Hospital. “We are excited about the opening of the Crisis Stabilization Unit and look forward to our continued partnership in improving the quality of behavioral health care in our community.” Avita Crisis Stabilization Unit clients have access to medical and counseling services, and linkage to an array of community services based on individual needs. Length of stay is flexible to meet individual needs and averages three to five days. “People who have a mental illness (which can sometimes be compounded by substance abuse), require intensive care for success,” Barnet said. “We serve everyone based on their individual needs and recognize that people with co-occurring disorders need to have integrated care. We also recognize that people are different and need to be helped accordingly.” Behavioral health professionals work with clients to help design plans of action to prevent future crises with education and support in nutrition, coping skills, relapse prevention, medication management, and the use of community resources. A key function of this program is to ensure that clients are linked to appropriate services and support when they return to their homes. About Avita Community Partners Avita Community Partners was formed by the 1993 Georgia State Legislature to serve persons experiencing the disabling effects of mental illness, developmental disabilities, and addictive diseases. Avita serves individuals from 13 counties in North Georgia, including Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White Counties. Originally founded as Georgia Mountains Community Services (GMCS), Avita Community Partners’ mission is to improve quality of life for persons with behavioral health and developmental disabilities. For more information, please visit www.avitapartners.org. Contact: Wendy Alpine Alpine Communications (770) 321-6386 wendy@alpinepr.com

Avita Community Service Board provides hope for addicts and mentally ill http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/archives/51137/

Highland Rivers CSB works to help NWGRH patients relocate http://romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/14555554/article-Group-homes-already-serving-some-former-NWGRH-patients?instance=news_page_secondary_local

Announcing an exciting transition for the GRN Community Service Board Effective July 1, GRN CSB will become View Point Health. The CSB's Board of Directors and Leadership Team has worked closedly to develop this new brand as part of a major strategic planning initiative. You can see the new logo below and the temporary website at www.grncsb.com. We look forward to the full roll-out in the coming months. Please be patient with the CSB's transition as they continue to work hard and provide high quality care while preparing for the more competitive world of healthcare ahead.

NEWS ARTICLE Community Partnerships Put the Brakes on Unnecessary Violence and Incarceration (June 22, 2011) What happens when local law enforcement, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards (GACSB) partner together on behalf of Georgia’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)? Good things for communities, law enforcement and individuals suffering from behavioral health disorders. This past week, members of Berrien County Sheriff's Office, the Moultrie Police Department and Lowndes County Sheriff's Office spent 40 hours in CIT Training to help them effectively and humanely interact with persons impacted by mental illness, developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and addictive diseases. Since 2004, the Georgia CIT Program has sought to equip Georgia law enforcement officers with the skills to recognize and assist people with behavioral health disorders in crisis, thereby advancing public and citizen safety and reducing stigma. The value of such training is immeasurable. CIT keeps officers informed and empowered to make sure that individuals in crisis receive the care they need, instead of incarceration. “CIT ensures that we are not quick to judge those we don’t understand,” said Lowndes County Deputy Lamar Smith. This week's CIT class was hosted by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department and staffed mostly by local GACSB member Behavioral Health Services of South Georgia, with assistance from NAMI and the Greenleaf Center. It included clinical classroom instructions, practical de-escalation role play exercises, lived experiences of consumers and family members, and site visits to New Beginnings Day Services and the Greenleaf Center. The training covers a variety of subjects such as: Understanding & Preventing Suicide, Signs & Symptoms of Mental Illness, De-Escalation Techniques, Legal Issues and Mental Health Law, Addictive Diseases, Child & Adolescent Interventions and more. The GACSB and its member organizations are proud to work with their communities on CIT training; it is a natural extension of the work GACSB’s member organizations have been doing for more than thirty years leading the development and operation of cost effective, high quality, mental health, developmental disability and addictive disease services in Georgia. “That includes services like CIT training, which we volunteer our time, staff and facilities to make possible,” says GACSB advocate and CIT trainer June DiPolito. “The GACSB is committed to our communities and the services necessary to keep everyone – citizens, law enforcement, individuals in crisis – safe. It’s all about partnerships with others for the good of all.” Through Georgia CIT partnerships, over 4,000 law enforcement officers have received special training since the program’s inception. “The specialized training of CIT enables officers to better understand and relate to individuals with mental disabilities or disorders when in the field,” says GBI Special Agent Debbie Shaw, CIT Coordinator for State Law Enforcement. “This program brings law enforcement, mental health providers and the community at large together to provide the best service possible to all its citizens.” To date, 105 Police Departments (including 911 operators), 75 Sheriffs Offices (including 911 operators), Probation and Parole officers from the GA Dept. of Corrections, Parole Officers from Pardons and Parole, VA Police Departments, Military Police from five military bases are counted among Georgia’s CIT force. About the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards For over 30 years, the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards (GACSB) member organizations have led the development and operation of cost effective, high quality, mental health, developmental disability and addictive disease services in Georgia. With 27 member organizations providing community based care across the state, the GACSB is dedicated to its mission of promoting the exchange of information, representing its members on legislative and administrative matters, and campaigning for the highest quality of life for consumers of mental health, developmental disability and addictive disease services. To learn more, please visit www.gacsb.org. About NAMI The purpose of NAMI Georgia, Inc. is to relieve the suffering and improve the quality of life for Georgians living with mental illness and their families through education, support, advocacy and research. About the Georgia Crisis Intervention Team The Georgia Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program is a collaboration of professionals committed to assisting persons with behavioral health disorders (mental illness, developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and addictive disease). To learn more, please visit, www.namiga.org

*NEWS ARTICLE* Community Partnerships Put the Brakes on Unnecessary Violence and Incarceration (June 10, 2011) What happens when local law enforcement, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards (GACSB) partner together on behalf of Georgia’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)? Good things for communities, law enforcement and individuals suffering from behavioral health disorders. This past week, members of Evans, Bulloch, Tattnall and Toombs county law enforcement spent 40 hours in CIT Training to help them effectively and humanely interact with persons impacted by mental illness, developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and addictive diseases. Since 2004, the Georgia CIT Program has sought to equip Georgia law enforcement officers with the skills to recognize and assist people with behavioral health disorders in crisis, thereby advancing public and citizen safety and reducing stigma. The value of such training is immeasurable. “CIT keeps my officers informed and empowered to make sure that individuals in crisis receive the care they need, instead of incarceration. I made a commitment to have all of my deputies CIT trained by the end of September,” said Sheriff Randall Tippins, Evans County. This week's CIT class is hosted by the Evans County Sheriff’s Department and staffed by local GACSB member, Pineland MH/DD/AD, with NAMI’s assistance, and includes clinical classroom instructions, practical de-escalation role play exercises, lived experiences of consumers and family members, and site visits to Pineland treatment, recovery and support facilities. The training covers a variety of subjects such as: Understanding & Preventing Suicide, Signs & Symptoms of Mental Illness, De-Escalation Techniques, Legal Issues and Mental Health Law, Addictive Diseases, Child & Adolescent Interventions and more. The GACSB and its member organizations are proud to work with their communities on CIT training; it is a natural extension of the work GACSB’s member organizations have been doing for more than thirty years leading the development and operation of cost effective, high quality, mental health, developmental disability and addictive disease services in Georgia. “That includes services like CIT training, which we volunteer our time, staff and facilities to make possible,” says GACSB advocate and CIT trainer June DiPolito. “The GACSB is committed to our communities and the services necessary to keep everyone – citizens, law enforcement, individuals in crisis – safe. It’s all about partnerships with others for the good of all.” Through Georgia CIT partnerships, over 4,000 law enforcement officers have received special training since the program’s inception. “The specialized training of CIT enables officers to better understand and relate to individuals with mental disabilities or disorders when in the field,” says GBI Special Agent Debbie Shaw, CIT Coordinator for State Law Enforcement. “This program brings law enforcement, mental health providers and the community at large together to provide the best service possible to all its citizens.” To date, 105 Police Departments (including 911 operators), 75 Sheriffs Offices (including 911 operators), Probation and Parole officers from the GA Dept. of Corrections, Parole Officers from Pardons and Parole, VA Police Departments, Military Police from five military bases are counted among Georgia’s CIT force. About the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards For over 30 years, the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards (GACSB) member organizations have led the development and operation of cost effective, high quality, mental health, developmental disability and addictive disease services in Georgia. With 27 member organizations providing community based care across the state, the GACSB is dedicated to its mission of promoting the exchange of information, representing its members on legislative and administrative matters, and campaigning for the highest quality of life for consumers of mental health, developmental disability and addictive disease services. To learn more, please visit www.gacsb.org. About NAMI The purpose of NAMI Georgia, Inc. is to relieve the suffering and improve the quality of life for Georgians living with mental illness and their families through education, support, advocacy and research. About the Georgia Crisis Intervention Team The Georgia Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program is a collaboration of professionals committed to assisting persons with behavioral health disorders (mental illness, developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and addictive disease). To learn more, please visit, www.namiga.org

IN MEMORY OF BENNY PARKER (May 29, 2011) Benny Parker, a longtime community activist and political strategist for many campaigns in Columbus, died Friday at Emory Hospital in Atlanta. He was 64. "This is a big loss for the community," said state Rep. Calvin Smyre. "He was not only a great political strategist, he was a good leader and involved in the community." From supporting mental health issues to quietly working on numerous local and state campaigns, Parker was a strong supporter of the community. Linda Parker, his wife and former member of the Muscogee County School Board, said her husband was diagnosed with cancer about two weeks after he announced plans last year to run for Columbus District 3 seat that eventually was won by Bruce Huff. Although he had battled the disease for months, Linda Parker said the cause of his death hadn’t been determined. He was her big supporter when she ran for a seat on the school board. "He was my campaign manager but somebody else’s name was on there," she said. "He was actually the person. He led and guided that ship. If you were in a campaign you wanted Benny Parker." Parker graduated from Carver High School and attended Fielding Business College in Columbus. For more than 20 years, he was a successful insurance representative, served as a field representative for U.S. Sen. Wyche Fowler form 1987-1993. He also served as a consumer advocate for New Horizons Community Service Board for the last 15 years. In the community, he was the former president of the Carver High School Parent Teacher Association, Waddell PTA, Eastway Youth Football League Association and Lower Chattahoochee Community Action Agency. He was one of Smyre’s campaign coordinators when the state lawmaker made his first run for public office in 1974. "He was one of the guys that advised me and counseled me and done that over the years," Smyre said. "He played a pivotal role in my election in 1974." Smyre said Parker’s strengths were his compassion and heart for the community. "I saw that when he came to Atlanta to lobby for the mental health population," he said. "I saw him close up in that arena." Read more: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/05/29/1597483/longtime-community-activist-benny.html?storylink=addthis#ixzz1O8GwRDMS	Dedication Board Signed By Spring Fling 2011 Attendees

*NEWS ARTICLE* Treatment Effective, Recovery Expected…And Celebrated Georgia Association of Community Service Boards hosts the 14^th Annual Consumer Spring Fling Norcross, Ga. (May 31, 2011) – Over three joyful days (May 22-24) at The Lodge at Simpsonwood, more than 100 consumers of Georgia’s mental health, developmental disability and addictive disease services celebrated recovery, engaged in valuable social interaction and participated in life skills training and workshops to empower them in their daily lives. For 14 years, the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards (GACSB) has been hosting this volunteer staffed conference as a unique opportunity for its high functioning consumers to take that next step into re-entering, embracing and maintaining a successful recovery life. While Georgia’s care is constantly improving, changing and expanding, the consumers in attendance expressed their thanks for existing GACSB member services and programs at a special talent show on opening night through gospel songs sang through tears, poems written from the heart and tongue-in-cheek comedy routines. One consumer from River Edge Behavioral Health Center, lovingly nicknamed "Golden Gloria," stood up and stated her appreciation for the GACSB to all present, saying "You help us grow, and we will cherish that for the rest of our lives." Her words are accurate; the GACSB member organizations provide services that go far beyond medication and counseling. The GACSB’s community based mental health, developmental disability and substance use disorder services are designed to help consumers achieve meaningful lives in society. Treatment includes peer group support, daily activity planning, career skills development, employment and residential opportunities and more. "This year’s conference topics: Substance Use with Psychotropic Medications, Recognizing Your Triggers and Individual Crisis Plan Development, Residential Housing, Crisis Intervention Training, etc. illustrate the depth of the GACSB’s commitment to supporting our consumers recovery. We are here to heal and empower lives. And we give our consumers the tools and information to do just that," said Robyn Garrett-Gunnoe, Association Director of the GACSB. Speakers at the conference included: Dr. Frank Shelp, Commissioner, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; Dr. Courtney Tucker, Genoa Pharmacist; Steve Mickens, Social Security Administration; Doug Scott, Director, Housing, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; Pat Strode, National Alliance of Mentally Ill; Sgt. Jesse Hambrick, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office; and numerous GACSB member leadership. This year’s conference theme, chosen by the consumers, was "Find the Treasure within You," and featured pirate styled fun and décor. In attendance were consumers from the following GACSB member organizations Advantage BHS serving Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Elbert, Greene, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Walton Avita Community Partners serving Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, White Clayton CSB Cobb/Douglas CSB DeKalb CSB GRN CSB serving Gwinnett, Newton, Rockdale CSB of Middle GA serving Bleckley, Dodge, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Pulaski, Telfair, Treutlen, Wheeler, Wilcox New Horizons CSB serving Chattahoochee, Clay, Harris, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Stewart, Talbot Oconee CSB serving Baldwin, Hancock, Jasper, Putnam, Washington, Wilkinson Pathways Center CSB serving Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Troup, Meriwether Pineland CSB serving Appling, Bulloch, Candler, Evans, Jeff Davis, Tattnall, Toombs, Wayne River Edge BHC serving Bibb, Jones, Monroe, Twiggs South Georgia CSB serving Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Tift, Turner About the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards Since 1994, the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards (GACSB) has lead the development and operation of cost effective, high quality, mental health, developmental disability and addictive disease services in Georgia. With 27 member organizations providing community based care across the state, the GACSB is dedicated to its mission of promoting the exchange of information, representing its members on legislative and administrative matters, and campaigning for the highest quality of life for consumers of mental health, developmental disability and addictive disease services.

Congratulations to Patsy Thomas 2011 Saint Patrick's Woman of the Year! Check Out Middle Georgia CSB's Website Posting: http://www.csbmg.us/womanoftheyear2011.html

13th ANNUAL DISABILITY DAY AT THE CAPITOL February 24th, 2011 Robyn Garrett-Gunnoe (left) from Savannah’s Georgia Association of Community Service Boards and Reda Fricks from Cobb and Douglas County CSB’s take a break from lunch February 24th after the 13th Annual Disability Day at the Capitol hosted by the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities. Governor Deal addressed a crowd of over 2,000 at the Rally, pledging to “work with others here to make sure we expand the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all Georgians in the disability community.

The opening of the Avita Crisis Stabilization Unit is part of Georgia’s efforts to expand access to community-based services for persons with behavioral health, developmental disabilities and addictive diseases.