Perspectives: Georgia’s Continued Efforts for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
When Governor Nathan Deal asked me to lead the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) nearly four years ago, it was difficult to fully conceptualize what the next few years would bring. One week, I was the CEO of an organization that delivered behavioral health and intellectual and developmental disability services.
The next week, I was in a federal courtroom, standing across from fellow Georgians who were members of the Amici in a lawsuit against the State. I was the defendant and the person responsible for carrying out one of the most comprehensive settlement agreements of its kind, the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Settlement Agreement between the State of Georgia and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
While the ADA agreement contained challenging goals with aggressive deadlines, it has served as one of the most significant catalysts for service improvement in Georgia’s history. DBHDD staff and community providers embraced the goals of the agreement and redesigned our statewide service delivery system with the people we serve at the center of our planning. Governor Deal and the General Assembly matched this commitment by investing substantial resources to support our goals. When the scheduled end of the agreement came in 2015, court-appointed Independent Reviewer Elizabeth Jones found the State to be in significant compliance with the majority of the requirements, but also identified areas needing continued attention.
On May 27, 2016, after months of negotiations between state officials and the DOJ, Senior United States District Judge Charles Pannell approved an agreement between the two parties, which modified the terms of the original 2010 agreement. The newly adopted “Settlement Extension Agreement” represents a two-year commitment by the State to continue increasing community-based supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and housing opportunities for people with serious and persistent mental illness.
The extension agreement reflects many elements of DBHDD’s existing strategic priorities and is an acknowledgement of significant transformations within the state’s behavioral health and intellectual and developmental disability service system. The agreement focuses on clinical oversight, support coordination services, provider development, risk mitigation and quality reviews, NOW/COMP waivers and improved transition processes. Embedded in each of these priorities is a commitment to developing provider capacity and quality to support continued transitions from state hospitals into community settings.
DBHDD’s focus on integrated, community-based care has created opportunities previously out of reach for many Georgians who once called a state hospital home, and our team’s commitment to high-quality care only continues to grow. As I look back to my initial meeting with Governor Deal and my first few months in this role, I am amazed by the progress Georgia has made – progress which has only been possible because of the collaboration between providers, advocates, families and the State. We are proud of the work by all of our partners that has helped so many of our fellow Georgians. This agreement is a major achievement for the people we serve and a model for what can be accomplished when government, providers, advocates and families come together under a common goal.
Frank W. Berry has served as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) since 2012. DBHDD is the state agency that supports people with mental health needs, substance use disorders and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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