CEPTA DREAMER’S CLUBHOUSE
6010 Dawson Blvd., Suite B, Norcross, GA. 30093
November 10, 2015
Meeting Minutes
Members Present: Allan Goldman, Alan Huth, Ellyn Jeager, Amy Kuhns, Pierluigi Mancini, Linda McCall,
Robert McCauley, Sandra Mullins, Ronald Pounds, Yvette Sangster, Faye Taylor, Jean Toole, Sherry
Jenkins Tucker, Cynthia Wainscott
Members Absent: Marquis Baeszler, Mary Shuman, Bobby Cagle, Neil Campbell, Lynn Copeland, Lee
Davis, Jim Degroot, Lucy Hall-Gainer, Erika Johnson, Ron Koon, Michael Link, Bob Poston, Marva Reed,
James Risher, Tony Sanchez, Sue Smith, Patrick Waters, Marilyn Watson
Department Staff: Lavin Gartland Briggs, Andrew Johnson, Dawne Morgan, Stephanie Pearson,
Cassandra Price, Terri Timberlake
Guests: Karen Arnold, Alfred Brooks, Craig Goodmark, Cynthia Dunn Haley, Judy Knight, Pat Strode
Introductions, Moment of Silence
The meeting began with introductions and a moment of silence.
Respect Institute and Graduate, Karen Arnold
Karen Arnold, a Respect Institute graduate shared her recovery story. Karen said that in 2013 she went
into a recovery program with a made up mind to live a different life and has been able to remain drug
free and get the help she needs to address her Bi- Polar Disorder.
Lori Wade- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
Lori Wade shared a Power Point presentation on MHFA, in which she discussed the overall success of
the trainings. She also discussed how organizations in the community, school systems, faith-based
communities could benefit from the training. Lori suggested that the MHFA training could benefit
agencies all across the State, because it would give more insight on how to support those living with
SMI/SED. The contents of the presentation are embedded into the minutes and also attached to this
document.
MHFA Presentation
Power Point MHPAC.ppt
Ellyn Jeager-Legislative Updates
Ellyn Jeager provided updates about a Children’s Mental Health Study Committee, School Counselor
Meetings, a Study Committee Meeting, Senate Meetings about Substance Abuse, Children’s ADHD Study
Committee and updates on the DJJ. Ellyn, also announced the date that the Legislative Session begins in
2016.
Craig Goodmark-Updates / (GNETS) Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support
Craig Goodmark presented updates on the DOJ letter to Georgia regarding the (GNETS), which stated
that the state had created a segregated school system of education for children labeled as having
emotional behavior disorders. Mr. Goodmark talked about Psycho Education verses Regular Education
and how that has created separation and segregation in the Georgia school system and it being a
violation of the American Disabilities Act (ADA). Mr. Goodmark said that the DOJ and Georgia is talking
and encouraged advocacy against such a school system.
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD)
Lavin Garland Briggs- presented DOJ Settlement Updates on behalf of Commissioner Frank Berry.
Ms. Lavin Garland Briggs began by talking about the DOJ Settlement Agreement and she stated that the
settlement agreement ended officially on June 30, 2015. DBHDD attorneys are in continued
conversation with the DOJ. Compliance was reached on many of the key components of Behavioral
Health Services and DBHDD is expecting to have a hearing with Judge Pernell, the DOJ and the
Independent Reviewer (Elizabeth Jones), where brief status updates will be provided and discussions
about the next steps. The Department is moving full steam ahead with a focus on three critical areas
that include, DD Priority Plan – 1. Transitioning individuals out of State Hospitals into the Community. 2.
Increase Supportive Housing capacity for individuals with Mental Illness 3. Intern, which is the continued
development and refinement of the Division of Accountability for Clients and the Division of
Performance Management Quality Improvement.
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities(DBHDD)
Andrew Johnson- spoke about the FY17 Budget, and noted that the budget request has been presented
to Governor Deal. Mr. Johnson talked about the wonderful investments that resulted from the ADA
Settlement Agreement, which was 174 million over a five year period for Behavioral Health Services and
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services. He said that particularly in Behavioral Health
Services the focused seemed to be more on crisis services and that regular and routine services seemed
to have been neglected and how that leads to an increased cost in crisis services. All agencies were
instructed to give a flat budget. There is increased revenue this year in the State Budget and the
Commissioner is asking for some new things. The budget for DBHDD is 1.1 billion for the entire
department. There will not be any new money coming into the budget as it relates to the agreement of
the settlement. On the Behavioral Health side there has been a request made for three new Behavioral
Health Crisis Centers. There is a back log in forensics in jails, a request’s been made for 40 new beds
from Georgia Regional/Atlanta for forensic individuals, to address some of the back log that are
happening in jails. Mr. Johnson talked about a Hospital Retention Plan to address Staffing Issues. Also,
Mr. Johnson announced that third party rate study was conducted on IDD Providers, which shows that if
they were offered competitive pay rates they would potentially provide quality services. Mr. Johnson
spoke on the issue of comp waiver’s and the importance of continuing to get people into services and
Georgia’s obligation to increase the capacity for people to live a successful life.
Division Updates
November 10
Dvision Updates GBHPAC.pdf
Pat Strode-GA. CIT (Georgia Crisis Intervention Team) Power Point Presentation
Pat Strode presented a Power Point on the Georgia Crisis Intervention Curriculum, highlighting how Law
Enforcement could benefit from the training. She also referred to a recent incident that occurred in
Dekalb County where a young man living with Mental Illness being shot and killed by a Law Enforcement
Officer. The Power Point is embedded into the minutes, also see attachment.
Introduction to GA
CIT_MHPAC.ppt
Council Business/Announcements
Sherry Jenkins Tucker (Chair) announced that there would be an upcoming meeting to adjust the bylaws as MHPAC has transitioned to BHPAC. Sherry asked Council Members if they would give
information on who their Permanent Alternates were. Sherry announced that Mental Health Day at the
Capital is scheduled for January 20, 2016.
Meeting Adjourned at 3:00 p.m.