River Edge Behavioral Health participating in statewide campaign to raise awareness about the critical role of Community Service Boards in Georgia

Contact: Cara Quarantillo, River Edge Communications: 478.283.0138 (mobile) // cquarantillo@river-edge.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 29, 2022,
 

River Edge Behavioral Health participating in statewide campaign to raise awareness about the critical role of Community Service Boards in Georgia

Macon, GA - River Edge is participating in a statewide campaign to raise awareness of the critical importance of Community Services Boards (CSB) in assuring behavioral health services are available to everyone in Georgia. ‘The CSB is Me’ campaign provides real-world examples of how the state’s CSBs - agencies like River Edge - help local residents access treatment for mental health challenges, substance use disorders and intellectual/developmental disabilities. 

River Edge is part of a statewide behavioral health safety-net that ensures everyone in Georgia can get the help they need, in their community, regardless of their ability to pay. With clinical services, crisis services, community-based services and more, Community Service Boards remove barriers to treatment and meet people where they are. As demand for mental health and substance use treatment services is at an all-time high following the pandemic, Community Services Boards are more important than ever.

“There is clearly a critical need for mental health services.  River Edge Behavioral Health provides HOPE!  With proper care and support, individuals and families can improve self-esteem, recover from substance use disorders, relieve anxiety and depression, and develop the valuable skills to live a healthy and independent life.  Working together as a community, River Edge Behavioral Health will continue its 50-plus year history of making a meaningful impact by building a healthy and resilient community for years to come.  We make life better!”- Cass Hatcher, Interim River Edge CEO.

Georgia’s 22 Community Services Boards serve all 159 counties in the state, with most CSBs covering multiple counties. In many Georgia counties, the Community Service Board is the only public mental health/substance use treatment provider. Each year, CSBs in Georgia serve more than 29,000 children and adolescents, 144,000 adults with mental health problems or substance use, and more than 5,000 adults with disabilities. Because individuals typically receive multiple services from their local CSB, it is estimated that CSBs in Georgia provide more than a million services each year, making them collectively the largest provider of behavioral health services in the state.

The 'CSB is Me’ campaign is being coordinated by the Georgia Association of Community Services Boards (GACSB), a statewide association that supports the state’s CSBs through policy and legislative advocacy on both the state and national levels. The GACSB website (www.gacsb.org) allows Georgia residents to search by zip code to find their local CSB, with direct links to each agency’s website.

To learn more about the services provided by River Edge counties served and how to enroll in services, visit www.river-edge.org.

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