On August 1, DBHDD partner River Edge Behavioral Health Center in Macon hosted Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) public health analyst David Shillcutt. Shilcutt requested the meeting to learn more about community-based services and to get input from River Edge leadership on Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) and SAMHSA policy enhancements that facilitate better access to care for people seeking recovery from mental health challenges and drug or alcohol addiction.
River Edge CEO Shannon Terrell Harvey welcomed Shillcutt’s visit saying, “We know treatment is effective and recovery can be expected. Sound policy makes access easy and affordable because every dollar invested in treatment saves seven dollars in social costs and five more in medical cost offset.”
Shillcutt toured River Edge’s residential detoxification and crisis stabilization unit and also visited an outpatient and supported employment facility for individuals in mental health and addiction recovery.
River Edge Behavioral Health Center is one of twenty-six community service boards in the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities’ statewide public safety network. River Edges serves more than 12,000 youth and adults with mental health and addiction disorders and developmental disabilities annually through multiple locations in Bibb, Baldwin, Jones, Monroe, Putnam, Twiggs and Wilkinson counties annually.
