Quarterly Newsletter

Updates on status of mental health services for deaf and hard of hearing in Georgia

There is a team of agencies working to improve mental health and addiction services in Georgia:

The Deaf Mental Health Services Coalition was formed in 2005, meeting monthly to formulate long-term planning for improved services in Georgia.  It is made up of members of MHDDAD, GACHI, G.R.E.A.T. D.A.Y., Inc., the State ADA Coordinator, GA Department of Labor, and members of the community.  www.mhddad.dhr.georgia.gov

The Deaf Mental Health Access Line is funded by the GA Dept of Human Resources (DHR), Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases (MHDDAD) since 2008, and is run by G.R.E.A.T. D.A.Y., Inc. to provide screening and referral to accessible local services by MHDDAD providers.  dmhaccessline@greatdayinc.net

G.R.E.A.T. D.A.Y., Inc. has been providing deaf-friendly direct mental health services in the metro area and beyond since 2001.  www.greatdayinc.net

GACHI is a strong advocate for accessibility of services in systems within and beyond MHDDAD, such as the legal system, Department of Family and Children’s Services, schools, etc.  www.gachi.org

DHR Office of LEP/SI (Limited English Proficiency/Sensory Impairment Program) was formed by DHR in 2008 to ensure accessibility of services through training of providers on ADA laws and to enforce contracts between local providers and DHR/MHDDAD.  Each region in the state has a LEP/SI  Language Access Coordinator to provide meaningful language access to customers.  www.lepsi.dhr.georgia.gov

The State of Georgia ADA Coordinator’s Office is a section of the GA State Financing and Investment Committee.  They assist government agencies in meeting their responsibilities under Title II of the ADA. www.ada.georgia.gov

The Georgia Department of Labor (DOL), Vocational Rehabilitation Program, provides development of professional guidelines and training for mental health interpreters.  www.vocrehabga.org

We want your stories!

We want to know about your experiences in the mental health/addiction treatment area with regard to accessibility of services.  If you have a relevant story to tell about accessibility problems or successes since 2008, please share them with us in a short paragraph.  To maintain confidentiality, please remember to leave out any identifying information, such as names and towns, but do include county.  Write to dmhaccessline@greatdayinc.net

We know that there are continuing challenges with lack of accessible services, especially in the areas of addiction treatment, residential treatment such as group homes or half-way houses, deaf-friendly foster care, sex offender treatment, treatment of jail inmates, etc.   It is a work in progress!