Georgia Crisis & Access Line
For access to services and immediate crisis help, call the Georgia Crisis & Access Line (GCAL) at 1-800-715-4225, available 24/7.
Georgia Behavioral Health Coordinating Council
Established in 2009 by the Georgia General Assembly, the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council (the “Council,” or “BHCC”) supports Georgia’s behavioral health-serving agencies and partners. The BHCC establishes goals and recommends measures for improved efficiency and access to services. The purpose and mission of the Council is to identify overlapping services regarding funding and policy issues in the behavioral health system.
The Council has seventeen members: Nine department commissioners from various agencies, the chair of pardons and paroles, the state disability ombudsman, and the state school superintendent are members of the Council by law. The adult consumer of public behavioral health services, the family member of a consumer of public behavioral health services, and the parent of a child consumer of behavioral health services are appointed by the Governor. The member of the house of Representatives is appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Senator is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor. All Council members serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority with no term limit.
Council Members:
Commissioner Judy Fitzgerald, Chair
Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities
Commissioner Caylee Noggle
Department of Community Health
Stanley Jones, Esq., Secretary
Family Member of a Consumer
State School Superintendent Richard Woods
Department of Education
Commissioner Christopher Nunn
Department of Community Affairs
Commissioner Mark Butler
Department of Labor
Representative Katie Dempsey
District 13
Senator Kay Kirkpatrick
District 32
Commissioner Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H.
Department of Public Health
Commissioner Candice L. Broce
Department of Human Services
Chairman Terry E. Barnard
State Board of Pardons and Paroles
Commissioner Tyrone Oliver
Department of Juvenile Justice
Commissioner Timothy C. Ward
Department of Corrections
Commissioner Michael Nail
Department of Community Supervision
Jacquice Stone
Disability Services Ombudsman
Diane Reeder
Parent Representative
Julie Spores
Adult Consumer