Governor Sonny Perdue says a reorganization of the state’s health and social services will help pave the way toward fixing Georgia’s severe deficiencies in mental health care.
Perdue says a newly-created Department of Behavioral Health would handle only mental health and addiction programs. The plan also creates a Department of Health, to oversee programs such as Medicaid and Peachcare, and a Department of Human Services--handling welfare and elderly issues.
The state has been under federal scrutiny for what investigators say are dangerous conditions in Georgia’s seven mental hospitals. Perdue says this new arrangement is vital.
"I firmly believe by separating these functions organizationally, the resulting standalone department focused on mental health will be a nimble, flexible, responsive unit better able to fully implement the commission’s recommendations".
The announcement comes on the heels of a report from the Governor’s task force on how to improve the state’s troubled mental hospitals and services.
While the reorganization looks good, it still makes Lei Ellingson cautious. She’s assistant director for mental health programs at the Carter Center in Atlanta.
"I think it’s a good step to have mental health and addictive diseases pulled out and brought closer to the Governor, if there’s this direct link. But the budget has to be there".
The reorganization would take-hold on July 1st of next year, if approved by lawmakers.
Perdue says a newly-created Department of Behavioral Health would handle only mental health and addiction programs. The plan also creates a Department of Health, to oversee programs such as Medicaid and Peachcare, and a Department of Human Services--handling welfare and elderly issues.
The state has been under federal scrutiny for what investigators say are dangerous conditions in Georgia’s seven mental hospitals. Perdue says this new arrangement is vital.
"I firmly believe by separating these functions organizationally, the resulting standalone department focused on mental health will be a nimble, flexible, responsive unit better able to fully implement the commission’s recommendations".
The announcement comes on the heels of a report from the Governor’s task force on how to improve the state’s troubled mental hospitals and services.
While the reorganization looks good, it still makes Lei Ellingson cautious. She’s assistant director for mental health programs at the Carter Center in Atlanta.
"I think it’s a good step to have mental health and addictive diseases pulled out and brought closer to the Governor, if there’s this direct link. But the budget has to be there".
The reorganization would take-hold on July 1st of next year, if approved by lawmakers.
