Georgia’s mental health agency has broken ground on the state’s first crisis support center specifically designed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Crisis Stabilization Diagnostic Center is expected to open at the beginning of 2025 in downtown Macon.
“This project represents a significant milestone in our commitment to make sure individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to the right care at the right time,” Kevin Tanner, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, said during a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday.
“[It] exemplifies our dedication to our mission to ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, receives the highest quality of care and attention they deserve.”
The center is the result of a partnership between the state, Mercer University, and River Edge Behavioral Health. The 34,000-square-foot facility will offer a broad range of services, including behavioral health assessments, psychiatry, neurology, physical and occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, dentistry, and ophthalmology.
“Often, individuals with disabilities experience a crisis that may look like a behavioral health issue on the surface but is rooted in a physical issue,” Tanner said. “This center is designed with these important Georgians’ whole health in mind and with the recognition that these services are critical to community-based care.”
The center also will feature a training component to help members of Georgia’s future health-care workforce better serve those with disabilities.
Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links.
