About the Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities
The Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, located in Atlanta, Georgia, offers outpatient treatment to adults struggling with substance abuse, mental illness, or who have a developmental disability. Recently, the facility also added an Open Access program at its community-based mental health center locations where children, adolescents and families, adults, and senior citizens can receive care from a therapist on a first come, first served walk-in basis for two hours per day, Monday-Friday. Finally, the facility also offers group therapy sessions led by clinicians on various topics throughout the week.
Treatment & Assessment
The facility’s substance abuse treatment program follows the guidelines of the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s evidence-based Principles of Addiction Treatment. Clients receive an individualized treatment program to help them address physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs as they progress towards recovery. The program is equipped to care for clients with dual diagnoses in addition to substance abuse. Services are provided in the Center for Health and Rehabilitation, opened in September of 2005, which has also become a home for several community-based programs including 12-Step meetings. The Center also provides comprehensive care to residents in need of treatment for mental illness. Throughout treatment, clients may receive individual therapy and also have access to many group therapy sessions hosted during the week by trained therapists.
The facility also provides support for adult residents with developmental disabilities through their three outpatient training centers. The centers serve around 300 participants each year with a goal to provide vocational training, community integration, daily living skills, and socialization skills. Participants will also receive medication administration and medical evaluations yearly or as needed through the program.
Those wishing to receive treatment must be able to provide proof of income, proof of Fulton County residence, and present a Georgia issued state identification card.
Staff Credentials
The treatment team includes licensed clinical social workers, counselors, certified addiction counselors, and behavioral health technicians among others. One loved one said that the facility staff were experienced and well-trained while an alum indicated that the staff were a strength of the facility.
What Alumni Say
The sole alum who rated the facility on Best-rehabs.com gave the facility a positive, but limited review. The anonymous client simply gave the facility five out of five stars for treatment effectiveness. She indicated that the facility offered excellent leisure, exercise, and extracurricular options; and gave a neutral response when asked if the facility had high quality holistic offerings. She felt that a strength of the facility was the excellent staff but that a weakness was the transportation offered. She added, “I think it’s a very recommendable program, very thorough in staff client interaction.”
What Friends & Family Say
At the time of this writing there has been one friend or family member polled by Best-rehabs.com. The anonymous loved one gave the facility two out of five stars for treatment effectiveness, four stars for accommodations & amenities, and three stars for meals & nutrition. He indicated that the facility’s cell phone and visitation policy was fair; that the facility was clean and well maintained; and that there were many counseling options to choose from depending on the client’s preference. He felt that a strength of the facility was its hospitality but that the quality of the food served was not great.
Financing
There is currently no information provided by the facility regarding its costs. However, one family member polled by Best-rehabs.com indicated that the treatment plan was affordable but was then neutral when asked if the treatment and services offered at the facility were worth the cost.