CSB breaks ground on new Health Crisis Center

Local and state officials held a groundbreaking ceremony last Wednesday morning for the Community Service Board of Middle Georgia’s new Behavioral Health Crisis Center, a venue that will help the agency care for more people.

Work on the new BHCC began at the end of February, but the official groundbreaking was held in conjunction with a ribbon-cutting for the newly renovated Child, Adolescent and Emerging Adult Program, also known as Building 13. Construction continued as CSB Chief Executive Officer Denise Forbes welcomed everyone to the event.

“This month is a time when we celebrate Mental Health Awareness month,” Forbes said. “We gather for the momentous occasion to do the groundbreaking for the Quentin Price M.D. Behavioral Health Crisis Center. Today is the next step in our mission to ensure individuals experiencing a substance abuse crisis can receive the compassionate immediate care that they need.”

The expansion will allow them to grow from 16 beds to 40 patient beds. This will include 24 crisis stabilization beds and 16 temporary observation beds, she said.

“The increase capacity allows us to better serve our region with timely, trauma-informed and recovery focused care,” Forbes said. 

The project was fully funded by the Georgia General Assembly through the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Forbes said she appreciated state Rep. Matt Hatchett (District 155) and DBHDD Commissioner Kevin Tanner for their advocacy in strengthening Georgia’s Behavioral Health infrastructure. She also thanked Denise Sampson, from Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’ office for being at the event, as well as thanks to Jones and Gov. Brian Kemp for their assistance and encouragement for this project.

“DBHDD is state’s provider of last resource for those seeking help for mental illness, substance abuse addiction for intellectual and developmental disability,” Hatchett said. “About six years ago we in the Georgia House recognized that Georgia’s mental health system was under crisis. It was underfunded and our regulations were out of date.”

Georgia had fallen behind the rest of the country. Hatchett said they began to correct that oversight in 2019 by establishing the Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission, which is chaired by Tanner. That commission made recommendations that formed the basis for House Bill 1013 in 2022, that bill and its reforms have been accompanied by an accumulative annual investment of an additional half a billion into the state’s mental health system, Hatchett said.

“Today is an example of what those investments are making possible,” he said. “This Behavioral Health Crisis Center will be a 24/7 facility to serve those in crisis. It will also be a first-of-its kind resource for children and adults who will need immediate help. As we see this facility grow, it will glow brighter and brighter as a beacon of hope for families across Middle Georgia. This is an investment of the state of Georgia, and I would be remiss if I did not thank all of my colleagues in the General Assembly for their support of this project.”

Tanner said the new BHCC is about keeping promises. 

“This is about this network that we studied and we understand where we need new crisis centers and new bed capacities,” he said. “This is just one step in making all of that possible. This project has taken unwavering cooperation between the local government here between Dublin and Laurens County, but also legislative and community partners, our CSB leadership and our staff at DBHDD. Behavioral Health Crisis Centers are the cornerstones of the entire safety net of our system. They reduce the strains on our emergency rooms and our jails and most importantly, they provide services for families when they are most in need with dignity and compassion for individuals experiencing mental health crisis. … We are looking forward to seeing this building become a reality.” 

Renee Moore, program manager for the crisis stabilization unit for Quentin’s Place and future program manager for the new BHCC, said construction will occur on both sides of Johnson Drive and throughout the surrounding area for the next 13 to 14 months.

“This will be an active construction zone, so we’ll appreciate your patience as we bring this vision to life,” Moore said. “This new facility represent hope, access and stability and we are so proud to be a part of this progress.” 

Sampson presented a proclamation from Jones’ office.

“To be out here for this groundbreaking, and to see that Georgia is doing what we’re supposed to do to take care of people in all aspects of their lives, it’s a honor to be a part of this,” she said.

Sampson hoped there would be a good place for the proclamation to hang in the new facility. 

Dublin Mayor Joshua Kight said the new center shows that Dublin is the center for medical services for this region, with it sitting between the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center facility and Fairview Park Hospital.

“It adds that missing link of mental health and mental health services,” Kight said. “This is important for many reasons far beyond the economic impact.”

He pointed out Dublin Police Chief Keith Moon and Laurens County Sheriff Larry Dean.

“A critical part of our public law enforcement is understanding how to deal with people in crisis,” Kight said. “Generally, it’s not good to have to deal with that through a law enforcement prospective. It’s better if they can receive treatment from the medical side. But, if you don’t have beds available, that limits the options. This facility will provide additional options for our law enforcement to take people in need who are going through a crisis and make sure they don’t stay within the criminal system and instead go to the medical system where they belong.” 

Kight pointed out that people going through a mental crisis can be a scary time for the family who does not know what to do.

“Having these additional 40 beds will relieve the families,” the mayor added. “That is such a positive benefit to our community.” 

Heath Taylor, president and CEO of the Dublin-Laurens Chamber of Commerce and Jason Dollar, Chamber Board of Director chairman, both congratulated the CSB for the new facility.

“We are in a time when mental health needs are rising not only across our nation and state but right here in our community,” Taylor said. “What an awesome privilege it is to be able to provide this type of care for those who need it right here. This facility is not only going to save lives, but it will strengthen our workforce and provide for our law enforcement, care providers and schools. It will have a lot of impact being right here in Dublin and Laurens County.” 

Dollar agreed with Taylor and thanked CSB officials for their leadership.

“This community joins together and they ban together to get things done and they look out for each other,” Dollar said. “I think any time you see bulldozers going and horns beeping in the background, you know things are moving and things are happening and that’s a good sign for any community because of the investment and the construction going on. We know this is going to be a great success.”