Frequently Asked Questions

A System of Care is a spectrum of effective, community-based services and supports for children and youth with or at risk for mental health or other challenges and their families, that is organized into a coordinated network, builds meaningful partnerships with families and youth, and addresses their cultural and linguistic needs, in order to help them to function better at home, in school, in the community, and throughout life (Stroul, B., Blau, G., & Friedman, R. 2010).

Georgia’s System of Care feedback loop consists of 5 levels that include:

1. Local Interagency Planning Teams,
2. Local Interagency Planning Team Collaboratives,
3. The Interagency Directors Team,
4. Behavioral Health Coordinating Council,
5. The Governor’s Office.

Each level communicates with the others through bi-directional flow so that state leaders are more informed of what is taking place at the community level and vice versa.

For more information click on the About Us tab of the System of Care Website. 

Your insurance may impact your eligibility for services. For additional information (insurance options, coverage, eligibility, etc.) click here.

A System of Care is a philosophy based on the idea that families may be better supported when behavioral health providers and stakeholders work together to meet their needs. 

Georgia’s System of Care website is predicated on linking families/individuals to the services they need. To learn more about specific ways to enter into Georgia’s System of Care, click here: Find a Provider.

There are four types of Certified Peer Specialists that serve youth, young adults, and families. They are:

1. Certified Peer Specialist
2. Certified Peer Specialist – Parent
3. Certified Peer Specialist – Youth
4. Whole Health Action Management

For more information on each certification, click on the What is a Certified Peer Specialist and Why is Lived Experience Important? banner on the homepage of the website.

Yes. The Georgia System of Care website primarily focuses on Certified Peer Specialist types that typically serve youth, young adults, and families. However, there are other Certified Peer Specialist types that more commonly serve adults. Examples of these types include:

1. Certified Peer Specialist Mental Health
2. Certified Peer Specialist Addictive Diseases
3. Forensic Certified Peer Specialist

For more information on CPS Mental Health and/or CPS Addictive Diseases, contact info@gasubstanceabuse.org.

For more information on Forensic – CPS, contact PeerMentoring@GMHCN.org.

For general information on why lived experience is so important, click on the What is a Certified Peer Specialist and Why is Lived Experience Important? banner located on the homepage of the website.

On the home page of the Georgia System of Care website there is a banner that reads What is a Certified Peer Specialist and Why is Lived Experience Important? Click the banner to learn more.

There are many ways for community members to get involved with Georgia’s System of Care. This includes offering support/resources, advocating, participating in grass roots efforts, among many other ways! For more information on how to get involved, email Matthew Clay at Matthew.Clay@dbhdd.ga.gov or you may contact us by clicking on the Contact Us tab of the website.

We understand that there are many acronyms, abbreviations, and jargon used within Georgia’s System of Care, which can be very confusing! To help provide clarity, visit the Resources & Documents subtab of the SOC Website by clicking here. Once you are on the Resources & Documents page, click on the Little Green Book file to download a document that will explain key terms, acronyms, etc.