Ogeechee Behavioral Health Services (OBHS), which began operation July 1, 1994, was created under state law to succeed county boards of health as a public provider of mental health, developmental disabilities and addictive diseases services to area citizens.
OBHS, with administrative offices in Swainsboro, Georgia, provides community mental health, developmental disability and addictive disease services to the citizens in southeastern Georgia. The area is composed of Burke, Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins and Screven counties, and encompasses a land area of 3,207 square miles. However, these counties are sparsely populated, with an average population density of 26.62 people per square mile, according to the Georgia County Guide. Three of the counties rank among the top ten in the state for total area. Emanuel County has the highest population density with 32.2 per square mile, with Jefferson County close behind at 32.0 per square mile. It is approximately 60 miles across the six county area, east to west. In 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the area to have a population of 88,789.
As small rural counties, the economy exists mainly upon agricultural products and timber production. However, the rural service area is characterized by isolation, poverty, unmet medical needs and a disrupted economy. Unemployment, health provider shortages, and distances from urban medical care centers contribute to a lack of access to health care services for rural communities. Educational attainment, employment rates, and per capita income all lag behind state and national averages. With no public transportation, access to care is a significant challenge for many people, especially those without the resources to drive the long distances needed to reach care.
Services: County, Population, Location, Facilities Information
- Burke County
- Population
- 22,991
- Facility Location
- Waynesboro
- Facilities
- Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic
- Developmental Disabilities Service Center
- Population
- Emanuel County
- Population
- 22,867
- Facility Location
- Swainsboro
- Facilities
- Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic
- Adult Services Day Program AD
- Adult Semi-Independent Residential
- Developmental Disabilities Service Center
- Developmental Disabilities Residential
- Population
- Glascock County
- Population 3,102
- Facility Location
- Gibson
- Facilities
- N/A
- Jefferson County
- Population
- 16,320
- Facility Location
- Louisville
- Facilities
- Developmental Disabilities Service Center
- Population
- Jenkins County
- Population
- 9,269
- Facility Location
- Millen
- Facilities
- Developmental Disabilities Service Center
- Developmental Disabilities Residential
- Population
- Screven County
- Population
- 14,240
- Facility Location
- Sylvania
- Facilities
- Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic
- Developmental Disabilities Service Center
- Population
- As a part of the DBHDD Region Two Mobile Crisis Response System, OBHS operates a four bedroom Crisis Support Home for adults with developmental disabilities in Richmond County.