Behavioral Health Mobile Unit

Behavioral Health Mobile Unit

The Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities is pleased to announce its new Mobile Mental Health Unit.

The state-of-the-art vehicle features three private consultation rooms, telehealth services, interior and exterior monitors, a large screen television, a restroom, and wheelchair accessibility.

The Mobile Mental Health Unit was made possible by a $3.9 million grant from the US Department of Health & Human Services – Office of Minority Health. Through this funding, the mobile unit will increase access to behavioral health services and educate residents in minority and under-served communities about available services - regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

WHAT SERVICES DOES THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MOBILE UNIT PROVIDE?

  • Information about mental illness, substance use disorders, COVID-19, and COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters that are recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Information about behavioral health services offered by the Fulton County Behavioral Health Network and assistance with accessing care
  • Assistance with scheduling an appointment at a Fulton County Behavioral Health Network location
  • Participation in events that promote preventive health measures, most specifically those offering COVID-19 and vaccine-related education

SPREADING THE WORD THAT “HELP IS HERE”

Are you interested in meeting our team and touring the Mobile Mental Health Unit? Check out the list of upcoming locations below


fulton county behavioral health network

mental health mobile unit schedule

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Hope thru Soap
Woodruff Park
91 Peachtree St.
Atlanta, GA 30303
November 9, 2023
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Blanket Atlanta with Love
Fulton County Government Center
141 Pryor Street, SW,
Atlanta, GA 30303
November 14, 2023
5 p.m. - 6:30 pm.

Saturday, November 15, 2023

Heards Ferry Elementary School
6151 Powers Ferry Rd NW,
Sandy Springs, GA 30339
November 15, 2023
4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Food Drive
Goodwill Career Center
6175 Old National Highway Suite 120
Atlanta, GA 30349
November 15, 2023
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Friday, November 17, 2023

Senior Living
Trinity Towers
2611 Springdale Rd SW #608,
Atlanta, GA 30315
November 17, 2023
2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 18, 2023

Atlanta Family Caregiver Expo
Impact Church
2323 Sullivan Rd,
East Point, GA 30344
November 18, 2023
10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 18, 2023

Camelot Club Condos
5655 Old National Hwy,
Atlanta, GA 30349
November 18, 2023
1:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Thanksgiving Festival
Luther Church of the Redeemer
731 Peachtree St NE,
Atlanta, GA 30308
November 21, 2023
10 a.m. -1 p.m.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

L.F Family Matter
Feldwood Elementary
5790 Feldwood Rd,
College Park, GA 30349
November 29, 2023
4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Behavioral Health Mobile Unit Request Form

Note:  The dimensions of the Mobile Unit are 8 1/2 feet wide, 34’ long, stands 13’ 6” tall and must be parked on a flat surface.

fulton County behavioral health network

Frequently Asked Questions

When and why did the Department of BHDD decide to invest in a Mental Health Mobile Unit?

The opportunity to seek funding for a Mental Health Mobile Unit presented itself in 2021 when the Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities (BHDD) applied for and received a grant from the US Department of Health and Human Service – Office of Minority Health. The grant was titled, Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Response to COVID-19.

· The grant provided $3.9 million to develop and implement health literacy strategies in minority, underserved communities adversely affected by COVID-19.

· The grant also allowed the Department of BHDD to achieve the following:

· Hire and train a Health Outreach Worker team that participates and collaborates in community outreach events throughout Fulton County.
· Manufacture and deploy the Mental Health Mobile Unit.
· Create a Community Coalition Board that simultaneously serves as an advisory board.
· Create an online hub for information regarding COVID-19 and behavioral health resources.
· Establish an organizational health literacy initiative for behavioral health providers.

What is the purpose of the Mental Health Mobile Unit?

· Expand the ability of the Department of BHDD to strengthen behavioral health and COVID-19 vaccination outreach efforts to minority and under-served communities.

· Educate the public about behavioral health services and the Fulton County Behavioral Health Network by stationing the mobile unit at neighborhood events and meetings, libraries, senior centers, schools, and other locations where our Outreach teams can interact with residents on a personal level.

· Aid individuals in minority and under-served communities in learning about behavioral health services that are available - regardless of insurance status and ability to pay as well as where to access COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.

· Through its visibility in the community, the Mental Health Mobile Unit will better enable the Department of BHDD to confront the stigma surrounding mental illness and substance use disorders.

What are the short-term and long-term benefits of the Mobile Unit?

· Both the short and long-term benefits of the mobile unit include enabling the Department of BHDD and the Fulton County Behavioral Health Network to have a greater presence in Fulton County to promote behavioral health services, and provide access to behavioral health care, and COVID-19 vaccinations. In addition, the mobile unit will also help confront the stigma surrounding behavioral health disorders and foster a path for individuals to seek and enter recovery.

· A long-term benefit of the mental health mobile unit will see the addition of a licensed behavioral health clinician traveling to specific locations with the Outreach Team. The presence of a clinician enables individuals who need assistance to receive a clinical assessment, which can be transmitted to a designated Fulton County Behavioral Health location for the individual to seek treatment. That will eliminate a critical step in the process when the individual arrives at the clinic for an appointment.

· If the person is in crisis and needs immediate assistance, the clinician will be able to assess their condition to get the individual the most appropriate care. This includes having patients transported to the Fulton County Behavioral Health Crisis Center that will open in 2024, or to another receiving crisis stabilization facility.

Who is your primary target audience?

· The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities will utilize the mental health mobile unit to reach all areas of Fulton County, with an emphasis on underserved communities and populations who have difficulty accessing behavioral health services.

What type of services can people expect to receive when entering the Mobile Unit?

Individuals entering the Mental Health Mobile Unit can expect the following types of services:

During the early rollout phase:

· Education and information about mental illness, substance use disorders, COVID-19, and COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters that are recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
· Information about behavioral health services offered by the Fulton County Behavioral Health Network and assistance with accessing care.

During the latter rollout phase:

· Private meeting with a licensed behavioral health clinician about their specific behavioral health concerns.
· Clinical assessment and assistance with scheduling an appointment at a Fulton County Behavioral Health Network location.
· Eventually, individuals will have access to tele-health services with either a licensed behavioral health clinician and/or psychiatrist.

Who will be administering the services on the Mobile Unit?

· General information and education about behavioral health and COVID-19 vaccinations will be provided by the BHDD Outreach Team. Clinical assessments will be provided by a licensed behavioral health clinician at a later date.

When will the Mobile Unit be available to the public?

· Fulton County residents can expect to begin seeing the Mental Health Mobile Unit in June 2023. Now that the mobile unit has arrived, we will train staff on the operations of the vehicle and stock materials onboard to educate the public about behavioral health programs and services. We have implemented a travel schedule for June that will continuously expand as we coordinate with our partner agencies.

Are there specific Mental Health Mobile Unit service hours? If so, please advise.

· Service hours will vary depending on the location or community event that the mobile unit will attend. Since the mobile unit will be assigned to specific community outreach events, the mobile unit may be in operation in the evening or weekends. Therefore, no specific hours of operation have been determined at this time.

What are the service areas for the Mobile Unit?

· The Mental Health Mobile Unit will service all of Fulton County, Georgia.

For more information about the Mobile Unit, who should people contact?

· Please contact Brian J. Williams, Program Evaluation Specialist at: brian1.williams@fultoncountyga.gov