Georgia’s Community Service Boards: Meeting the Needs of the State’s Most Vulnerable

Georgia’s Community Service Boards (CSBs) serve as the state’s leading providers of behavioral health, intellectual/ developmental disability, and addiction services for children, youth, and adults. These agencies are uniquely positioned to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care to the state’s most vulnerable populations, addressing urgent needs across the continuum of behavioral health recovery.

The Scope of Need in Georgia

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Bethesda Institute, the scale of behavioral health and disability needs in Georgia is significant:

• Nearly two million Georgians experienced mental illness and/or addictive disease in the past year.
• Over 320,000 residents lived with a serious mental illness during that same time.
• More than 145,000 adults in Georgia have an intellectual or developmental disability (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services & Bethesda Institute, n.d.).

These numbers illustrate the widespread impact of behavioral health conditions and the urgent need for coordinated, accessible, and community-based care.

The Role and Impact of CSBs

Georgia’s CSBs provided services to more than 175,000 individuals last year, delivering evidence-based, person-centered care tailored to each client’s needs (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services & Bethesda Institute, n.d.). These services span prevention, crisis intervention, treatment, and long-term support, ensuring individuals receive help at every stage of recovery and/or stabilization.

By leveraging local knowledge and statewide resources, CSBs work to remove barriers such as transportation access, stigma, and limited access to specialized services—challenges that often prevent individuals from receiving timely care.

Building a Healthier Future

The data underscores the critical role that CSBs play in Georgia’s health infrastructure. Their mission extends beyond treatment to include education, advocacy, and community partnerships, ensuring that individuals not only survive but thrive. With nearly two million residents impacted by mental illness or addiction each year, and hundreds of thousands living with serious mental health or intellectual developmental challenges, CSBs remain a cornerstone in Georgia’s strategy to improve behavioral health outcomes. The CSB of Middle Georgia is honored to be part of this journey.

Citation:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, & Bethesda Institute. (n.d.). [Title of report if available].