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.

2021 Meeting Calendar

Past Meetings Archives

BHCC Annual Reports

Council Members:

Commissioner Judy Fitzgerald, Chair
Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities

Commissioner Frank W. Berry, Vice Chair
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

Commissioner Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H.
Department of Public Health

Commissioner Robyn Crittenden
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