Despite limited state funding, sheriffs in central Georgia are planning a multi-county co-response program, the first of its kind in the region, to address what they call a crisis-level need.
The 2022 unified vision for transforming mental health and substance use care in Georgia is part of a multiyear legislative process. Last year, they called for better access to mental health care as the state tackled effects from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, the group is asking for more funding of behavioral health programs that have proven effective.
A New York City pilot program dispatches mental health and medical care instead of police to some 911 calls. Early data shows more people accepted help and fewer people were admitted to the hospital.
San Francisco will soon launch the nation's largest experiment that diverts most nonviolent mental health and behavioral crisis calls away from police and to specially trained mobile units.
