October 10, Decatur, GA – Dekalb Community Service Board recently received the CCBHC Grant from The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMSHA) in the total of $1,000,000 to revamp Clifton Springs Behavioral Health Center. Clifton Springs will be renovated into a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, extending comprehensive care to one of the most underserved segments of the service area.

The goal of this project is to expand access and availability to crisis intervention and intake services, substance abuse treatment services, increased suicide awareness and prevention efforts, coordinated services for active military members and their families, veterans, and more.

Dekalb County is the only county in Metro Atlanta area that is designated as a Health
Professional Shortage Area for primary, mental health, and dental care.
With a diverse population in an urban area with over 764,000 people, 97% of the uninsured patients receiving services at Dekalb CSB meet the no cost requirements, with 15.8% of residents living in poverty. Clifton Springs specifically serves a portion of

Dekalb County that has the status of both a medically underserved area and a low-income population.

“We are very excited about being awarded the CCBHC grant and the opportunity to integrate this model of service delivery into the continuum of care already provided by DeKalb Community Service Board.” Chatele’ Chester, Chief Quality Officer

Since receiving the grant, Dekalb CSB had the pleasure of hosting U.S. Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary, Andrea Palm, at our Winn Way location for a roundtable discussion on crisis intervention, DCSB’s Corresponder Program, and addressing behavioral health challenges exacerbated by the recent pandemic.

SAMSHA, a branch within the U.S. Health & Human Services Department leads public health initiatives to promote the behavioral health of the nation. Their purpose is to ease the impact of substance abuse and mental illnesses on communities across the country.

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