State mental health officials have announced expanding service at an Albany facility is expected to create 20 new jobs in the area.

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Frank Berry announced Monday that the department is investing $4.9 million to create a Behavioral Health Crisis Center in Dougherty County.

Berry says the center will have a capacity of 30 beds and six temporary observation beds. Berry says the center will help the department "achieve its mission of serving individuals with mental health challenges as close to home as possible."

A behavioral health crisis center blends short-term walk-in crisis intervention and counseling services with emergency, and crisis stabilization services. The center is slated to include physicians, registered nurses, licensed clinicians and other behavioral health professionals.

Tags: Albany, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, mental health, Frank Berry, behavioral health