DOJ Sent Governor Deal Findings that Georgia's Alternative Education System Violates ADA and Olmstead

United States Department of Justice Findings Letter involving GNETS

Court Monitor Issues DOJ Olmstead Settlement Report

Report critizes state's overdue patient transfers by Andy Miller September 21, 2015, Georgia Health News

Article on Massive Problems that Remain in Georgia's Mental Health System

Read Misty Williams's article in the AJC The Invisible Epidemic: Poor and Mentally Ill in Georgia

DBHDD Institutes New Vision and Mission Statement

DBHDD unveiled new vision and mission statements this week emphasizing the agency’s commitment to providing high-quality care to people with behavioral health challenges and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Vision Easy access to high-quality care that leads to a life of recovery and independence for the people we serve. Mission Leading an accountable and effective continuum of care to support people with behavioral health challenges, and intellectual and developmental disabilities in a dynamic health care environment. “At every level of our work, we are committed to providing easy access to high-quality care,” said Commissioner Berry. “The new vision and mission statements reflect the work we have focused on for the last several years.” This marks the first change to DBHDD’s vision and mission statements since the agency was created in 2009.

Latest Article on Settlement

State: Won’t meet Justice Department Deadline by Andy Miller from February 20, 2015

Find out about the ASO because it is critical to future of Olmstead in Georgia

Follow this link to learn about DBHDD's ASO It is going to do the work of quality management, contract or run GCAL, and gather data. Here is a power point to understand it all (or to begin to understand it).

MFP Stakeholder Meeting January 16th!

What: Invitation to attend a Focus Group Discussion about Your Experience in Money Follows the Person

When: Friday, January 16, 2015, 1 – 3 PM

Where: The Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO), 150 East Ponce De Leon Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030.

More about the Focus Group Discussion –

During the focus group, you will be asked to discuss your experience with MFP.  By participating, you will share some information about yourself and your experiences with MFP.  There is no direct benefit to you for participating and there are no foreseeable risks.  The results of this focus group discussion will be used to improve MFP and help us determine the future of MFP in Georgia. Your participation is strictly voluntary. 

For more information or to register to attend, you can contact Cheri Mitchell at The GAO at (404) 885-1234 or RL Grubbs at the Dept of Community Health at (404) 657-9323.

If you need an interpreter, alternate formats, or other accommodations for participation in the focus group discussion, please contact Cheri Mitchell or RL Grubbs as soon as possible so proper arrangements can be made. We look forward to meeting with you at the focus group discussion.

New Olmstead Rights Website

OlmsteadRights.org is all about Olmstead v. LC

Olmstead, or Olmstead v. LC, is the name of the most important civil rights decision for people with disabilities in our country's history. This 1999 United States Supreme Court decision was based on the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The Supreme Court held that people with disabilities have a qualified right to receive state funded supports and services in the community rather than institutions when the following three part test is met:

1. the person's treatment professionals determine that community supports are appropriate;
2. the person does not object to living in the community; and
3. the provision of services in the community would be a reasonable accommodation when balanced with other similarly situated individuals with disabilities.

To learn more about Olmstead, visit the new OlmsteadRights.org website.

Learn about What is Happening with Georgia DOJ Settlement

The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities has links to all of the main documents related to the current status of the Georgia/DOJ Olmstead v. LC Settlement.

You can find the Independent Reviewer's most recent report here.