Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in Georgia
A CCBHC is a specially-designated clinic that provides nine types of services, with a focus on providing 24-hour crisis care, evidence-based practices, care coordination with local primary care and hospital partners, and integration with physical health care.
Potential CCBHCs must demonstrate competence to treat the individuals they serve through an extensive 3-phase certification process.
What is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC)?
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24/7/365 crisis services to help people stabilize in the most clinically appropriate, least restrictive, least traumatizing, and most cost-effective settings.
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Person-centered treatment planning to customize treatment to meet needs and include available supports.
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Screening, diagnosis, and risk assessment for mental health, addictions, and basic primary care needs can help detect and alleviate chronic diseases that drive poor health outcomes and high costs for those with behavioral health disorders.
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Easy access to outpatient mental health and substance use care with criteria to assure a reduced wait time so those who need services can receive them when they need them, regardless of ability to pay or location of residence.
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Case Management and care coordination to assure that people are connected to the resources they need.
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Expanded care coordination with local primary care providers, hospitals, other health care providers, social service providers, and law enforcement, with a focus on whole health and comprehensive access to a full range of medical, behavioral, and supportive services.
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Tailored care for active-duty military and veterans to ensure they receive the unique health support essential to their treatment.
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Commitment to peers and family, recognizing that their involvement is essential for recovery and should be fully integrated into care.
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Psychiatric rehabilitation, wellness, resiliency, and recovery services and support.
The Evolution of CCBHCs in Georgia
This overview video details the types of services CCBHCs provide, the process of becoming a CCBHC, and personal stories about their impact.
What is the Certification process?
Phase One: Beginning
Planning for the certification process
Dedicating resources to establish a work plan for implementation and certification
Assessing community needs and preparing to meet those needs
Phase Two: Implementing
Implementing more connections to physical healthcare
Adjusting policies and procedures to the CCBHC model
Hiring staff and expanding capacity
Phase Three: Certification
Certification by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD)
What’s different about CCBHCs in Georgia?
National Association of Dually Diagnosed (NADD)Accreditation.
DBHDD is requiring aspiring CCBHCs to receive the National Association of Dually Diagnosed (NADD)Accreditation. The mission of NADD is to advance mental health practices that promote quality of life for individuals experiencing co-occurring intellectual/developmental diagnoses (IDD) and mental health conditions or mental illness (MI) in their communities. NADD Accreditation requires that a certain number of agency staff become NADD Certified.
What does this mean for CCBHC certification?
The mission of NADD aligns with the CCBHC model of ensuring access to coordinated care that treats the whole person, meaning individuals can receive an array of social, medical, and behavioral services. Accreditation by NADD indicates that programs within the CCBHC meet the high standards established by NADD for providing services to individuals with a dual diagnosis.
Georgians can rest assured that the programs and staff who are providing treatment and support are highly trained and committed to best practices for serving individuals who have intellectual disabilities and mental illnesses.
Who is Served by CCBHCs?
CCBHCs are designed to serve any individual in need of care, including (but not limited to) people with serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, long-term chronic addiction, mild or moderate mental illness and substance use disorders, and complex health profiles.
CCBHCs will provide care regardless of ability to pay, caring for those who are underserved, have low incomes, are insured, uninsured, or on Medicaid, and those who are active-duty military or veterans.
Where will CCBHCs be located in Georgia?
The map provides a high-level view of current CCBHC candidate locations and coverage areas. Ultimately, candidates in Georgia must be certified by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD).
Phase One Locations in Georgia:
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced eight new CCBHC planning and implementation expansion grants were awarded to:
Pathways Center
View Point Health
DeKalb CSB
CSB of Middle Georgia
CHRIS 180
Legacy Behavioral Health Services
Serenity Behavioral Health System
Recovery Consultants of Atlanta, Inc.
Additionally, Georgia is developing two CCBHCs with state-appropriated funds:
Aspire BH & DD Services
Highland Rivers Behavioral Health
Phase Two Locations in Georgia:
Advantage Behavioral Health Systems – Athens, GA
Pineland Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities – Statesboro, GA
River Edge Behavioral Health – Macon, GA
New Horizons Behavioral Health- Columbus, GA
“My CCBHC helped me at a time when I didn’t know where to go. They helped me get to a better place faster, and I am grateful.”
— CCBHC patient, South Georgia
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