The Mental Health Clinic has been in operation and serving the Juvenile Court population since its establishment in 1964.

In order to file an unruly petition, parents must:

• Attend at least one crisis counseling session, and efforts must be deemed unsuccessful.
• Between 75% and 80% of crisis counseling sessions results in successful diversion.
• Unruly petitions are NOT filed against children who are 17.5 years of age or older, on probation or have open charges.
• Additionally, charges can only be filed for Fulton County residents.
• Following the filing of an unruly petition, parent(s)/guardian(s) must take their child(ren) home with them.

Parent Education

Creative Parenting is a 12 week program specialized in parent education. Topics of discussion include:

• Anger Management
• Effective Parenting Styles
• Communication
• Discipline Techniques
• Budgeting
• Legal Related Issues and Court Proceedings

Gender Specific

• This 12 session program is geared towards adolescent males and females ages 11-17.
• Clients are either court order to attend the program, referred by Probation Officers, Crisis Counseling Staff, Mediation, and/or outside community agencies or interested community individuals.

Topics of discussion for both programming areas include:

• Self-esteem and self-image
• Decision-making and problem solving
• Anger management and conflict resolution
• Communication and relationships with others
• Goal setting and life skills
• Violence prevention
• Substance abuse
• Sexual development and health
• Gender-specific topics
• Emotional health
• Legal and school related issues

These services are both experiential and culturally relevant to the experiences of the targeted population
Groups for youth are typically held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings during the Fall and Spring from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. During the summer sessions are held from 3:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Internships
Internships are available for college/university undergraduate junior and senior class students, as well as, graduate students with majors in the following areas:

• Psychology
• Social Work
• Sociology / Criminal Justice

Three placement tracks are available:

• Clinical
• Research
• Administration / Management

Mental Health Staff

The Mental Health Clinic staff members are committed and dedicated to the prevention, early detection, treatment of mental health related issues of youth and their families.

The Mental Health Clinic can be reached at 404 - 612 - 4698.