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Devereux’s Gwen Skinner appointed to Georgia Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission
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Devereux Vice President of Operations Gwen Skinner was recently selected to serve on the Georgia Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission.
The commission, comprised of lawmakers, judges, behavioral health professionals, educators and law enforcement officials, will conduct a comprehensive review of Georgia’s behavioral health system.
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Devereux Advanced
Behavioral Health
Vice President of Operations Gwen
Skinner was recently selected to serve on the Georgia Behavioral
Health Reform and Innovation Commission.
The
commission, created by legislation approved earlier this year by the Georgia
General Assembly and signed into law by Gov.
Brian Kemp, will examine behavioral health services in the state. The
commission’s 24 members were sworn in during a ceremony at the Georgia State
Capitol in September.
Skinner
was appointed to the commission by House Speaker David Ralston as a result of her 30-plus years of behavioral
healthcare experience in both the public and private sectors. As vice president
of operations, she is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations –
including all programs and services – at Devereux’s Georgia, Florida and Texas
centers.
“I
am honored to serve on this crucial commission that will be considering new and
innovative ideas to improve Georgia’s service delivery system,” said Skinner.
“This is a unique opportunity to share knowledge and expertise with an
outstanding group of behavioral health professionals. The commission has the
potential to positively impact future outcomes of Georgia’s individual citizens,
and our state, as a whole.”
Examining Georgia’s
behavioral health services
The
commission, which is comprised of lawmakers, judges, behavioral health
professionals, educators and law enforcement officials, will conduct a comprehensive
review of Georgia’s behavioral health system. The review will include:
- Behavioral
health services and facilities available in the state
- Identification
of behavioral health issues in children, adolescents and adults
- Role
of the educational system in the identification and treatment of behavioral
health issues
- Impact
of behavioral health issues on the criminal justice system and the state’s
homeless population
- Legal
and systemic barriers to treatment
- Workforce
shortages that impact the delivery of care
- Access
to care, and the role of payers in such access
- Impact
of untreated behavioral illnesses on children transitioning into adulthood
“This
legislative session, we allocated $20 million for local health departments to
better treat mental health issues and doubled funding for a successful program
in Georgia schools to help students in crisis,” explained Gov. Brian Kemp in a press release announcing members of
the commission. “Working together with communities and families, this
commission of legislators, judges, subject-matter experts, and citizens will
now examine how the state can improve access and delivery of behavioral health
services for the people of Georgia.”
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