Georgia’s Newest Behavioral Health Crisis Center Coming Soon to Clayton County

ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) and the Clayton County Board of Commissioners are partnering to build a $19 million Behavioral Health Crisis Center (BHCC) in Clayton County. Commissioner Kevin Tanner shared the news as part of the State's ongoing commitment to strengthening crisis services in the metro area.

"When someone is in crisis, every minute matters," said Commissioner Kevin Tanner. "Building our next Behavioral Health Crisis Center in Clayton County will bring help closer to those who need it. Investing in crisis care means that a loved one, neighbor or friend has a safe place to go, surrounded by professionals and peers who understand what they're going through."

"It has been a pleasure and labor of love to work diligently to pursue this funding and bring these funds into the county," said State Representative Yasmin Neal (D-Jonesboro), Chair of the Clayton County Legislative Delegation. "For too long, Clayton County has lacked sufficient alternatives for citizens suffering with mental health. I would like to thank the Governor's Office for their support. I would also like to thank Commissioner Kevin Tanner and his team. It has been such a joy to work with Commissioner Tanner and his staff to make this funding a reality. Their engagement and communication have been top-tier. It has also been a pleasure working with Commissioner Alieka Anderson-Henry and her team to prepare for this moment. I look forward to this mental health facility providing relief from our hospital, sheriff's office and police department by placing those suffering with mental health into the proper facilities to receive proper treatment. I look forward to continuing to work to bring additional funding into the county.

"We are proud to announce this important collaboration between the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and the Clayton County Board of Commissioners, made possible through the leadership of State Representative Yasmin Neal," said Clayton County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Dr. Alieka Anderson-Henry. "Together, we celebrate the development of the $19 million Behavioral Health Crisis Center here in Clayton County. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Commissioner Tanner and the Department for choosing our county for this critical facility, and to Representative Neal for her tireless efforts in bringing this project together. This center represents a vital investment in the well-being of our residents-ensuring timely, compassionate care for those in crisis and strengthening the foundation of a healthier community for all."

Through this strong state-county partnership, the Clayton County BHCC will provide individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis with 24/7 access to a clinical team to determine care, observation and stabilization needs. The 24-crisis bed model is designed to offer clinical evaluations, temporary observation and stabilization admission, depending on level of need. People with behavioral symptoms or withdrawal needs are clinically assessed to determine the right level of care, from outpatient to stabilization. DBHDD estimates it will cost approximately $19 million to construct the facility.

Public safety leaders, such as local police and first responders, can rely on the Behavioral Health Crisis Center as a vital resource to safely and effectively address the mental health needs of individuals living in the community.

The third-party 2023 bed capacity study, conducted by Alvarez & Marsal, recommended the creation of eight new crisis centers by 2032, with immediate need in metro Atlanta, Central Georgia, and the Coastal region. The Clayton County BHCC represents a direct response to those findings, bringing services to one of the highest-need areas identified in the report. Since 2023, the Department has invested in three BHCCs located in Fulton, Laurens, and Richmond counties.

Information about a groundbreaking ceremony will be forthcoming.