Georgia’s
Crisis & Access Line triages call and link people to services as well as
cutting emergency treatment costs. More than a hotline, this crisis
safety net is an integral component of Georgia’s mental health system,
ensuring access to and continuity of care. In a time of economic
uncertainly the value of this service highlights a responsiveness to service
needs and provides strong connections to providers.
Lifeline
Supplemental
Award (April
2010)
BHL
is proud to announce that it is a recipient of a Lifeline Supplemental
Stipend
Award. SAMHSA provided the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline (800-273-TALK)
with one-year-only supplemental funds for the purpose of expanding the
network
capacity in response to increasing call volume, largely attributed to
growing
economic stressors nationwide. This grant funding directed
the Lifeline
to conduct competitive applications in order to increase call volume
capacity and,
in BHL’s case, to provide follow up for those at high risk of
suicide.
Mental Health Weekly: Mental Health Innovations (October 2009)
The
October 26th edition of Mental Health Weekly featured the Georgia
Crisis & Access Line in their Special Edition: Mental Health
Innovations. Featured on the front page, Georgia’s GCAL and Erie,
Pennsylvania’s Safe Harbor Behavioral Health were noted for “efficiency
during challenging times.” This article outlines the impetus that led
to the creation of this program and the system improvements brought
about in reducing wait times, the significant safety net GCAL provides
and the national recognition received by this program. (Mental
Health Weekly)
2009 Innovations in American Government Awards(September 2009)
On
September 14, 2009, Commissioner Frank Shelp from the Department of
Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, Gregg Graham,
President/CEO and Pamela Schuble, Chief Operating Officer, were invited
to attend the final award ceremony for the Harvard Kennedy School’s ASH
Institute for Democratic Governance. The Georgia Crisis &
Access
Line was one of the sixteen finalists for this prestigious award.
Although GCAL was not one of the six winners, we're proud to have
received a $10,000 award and framed certificate for Georgia’s “creative
approach”.
16 Ideas for Improving Government Services(June 2009)
In the May 27, 2009 edition
of Business Week, the Georgia Crisis and Access Line was featured in an
article about how the government
can do more with less.
Each of the programs that are Finalists in the Harvard Innovations in
American Government Awards was cited as potential case studies for
feasible national-level programs. Further the competition is noted for
creating a “marketplace for innovation to use power of ideas to create
change.”
Harvard Kennedy School’s ASH Institute for Democratic Governance and
Innovation Finalist(April 2009)
Behavioral
Health Link is proud to announce that the Georgia Crisis and Access
Line has advanced in the Harvard Kennedy School’s ASH Institute to the
Finalists. On May 27, 2009, Gwen Skinner, Director of the Division of
Mental Health Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases, and
David Covington, Investment Partner, presented before the National
Selection Committee in the Harvard Kennedy School Forum. The 16
programs that were Finalists represented innovations from all levels of
government programs. The winners of the 2009 Innovations in American
Government Awards will be announced in the fall of 2009. (Harvard
Finalists GCAL)
SAMHSA Follow Up Grant Award (March 2009)
Behavioral
Health Link has been awarded a Follow Up Grant from the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration. This special grant program
“will begin a national effort to ensure followup support for people who
reach out for help through the Lifeline” stated SAMHSA’s Acting
Administrator, Admiral Eric Broderick. (SAMHSA
News Release)
Six awards were made to crisis centers around the country for a period
of up to three years. Pamela Schuble, Chief Operating Officer, and
Allison Trammell, Director of Quality Management received the award
from Admiral Broderick, on March 13, 2009 at SAMHSA’s headquarters in
Washington, D.C. See announcement.
National
Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare 2009 Awards for Excellence
– Programs of Significance (April, 2009)
Behavioral Health Link received an honorable
mention for its call center/crisis services in innovations. (See
National Council of CBH) The National Council cited the
Georgia Crisis and Access Line as a program that is worthy of attention.
NAMI
Grading The States (April, 2009)
Although overall, Georgia’s performance
didn’t show significant improvement, the state did receive
special notice
for the efforts they’ve made by the use of Crisis Intervention Team
(CIT) training for police officers, in promoting access to crisis and
access services with the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) and by
being an early supporter of peer support specialists.
