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

Each level communicates with the others bidirectionally 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 based on the idea that families may be better supported when behavioral health providers and stakeholders work together to meet their needs. 

The goal of this system of care website is to link families or individuals to the services they need. To learn more about specific ways to enter 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 here.

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 here.

Click here 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 India Westbrook at iwestbrook@gsu.edu 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 provide clarity, download our Little Green Book, to learn key terms, acronyms, etc.