Champions for Mental Health
The Advocacy Center
March 29th 2021 | Issue 29
2021 Legislative Session
As we move into the final week of the Georgia Legislative Sessions, big decisions were made across the state. Adjournment Sine Die on March 31 will occur later this week. See below the current status of our tracked legislation and the FY2022 Budget as the Georgia Assembly. Stay tuned next week for our final reports.
Meet our New Executive Director
Atlanta—Mental Health America of Georgia’s (MHA of GA) Board of Directors have selected Abdul Henderson as the organization’s next Executive Director. Henderson succeeded Jewell Gooding, who stepped down as the Executive Director in February.

View full press release here.

Contact: Abdul Henderson
Executive Director, Mental Health America of Georgia
(770) 741-1481
abdul@mhageorgia.org
Session Updates
Legislative Tracking



View a condensed list of our tracked bills which have crossed over here.



Budget Updates
Senate Budget Substitute Released

Leaders in the Georgia Assembly will meet over the next several days to perfect the State’s spending plan for next year, which will likely re-emerge some time this week with a finalized version. In the meantime, see the full Senate Substitute and how they compare to the House's Budget Bill below.


Vaccine Information
Beginning last week, all Georgians over the age of 16 will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. 16- and 17-year-olds are only eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Getting an Appointment in Georgia
 Upcoming Community & Advocacy Events & Resources?
Tackling America’s Mental Health and Addiction Crisis Through Primary Care Integration

Wednesday, March 31, 2021
11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. ET

Join us for the release of a new report by the Bipartisan Policy Center's Behavioral Health Integration Task Force that offers a roadmap to advance the integration of behavioral health and primary care. The recommendations address barriers to integration through improving payment delivery, expanding and training the behavioral health workforce, and removing obstacles to tele-health and technology. 
Behavioral Health Town Hall Series
Mental Health America of Georgia hosted a series of virtual town halls to inform and advocate for Georgia’s communities impacted by mental health conditions. The town halls offered information and recommendations on the political determinants of Mental Health and Wellness. Each town hall topic discussed the intersection of mental health in the community and policy recommendations to improve mental health outcomes in specific population groups. Please review our past town halls to become more informed of the impacts in our communities.
For free and confidential emotional support or resource information as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, call or text 866-399-8938.
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF GEORGIA