Mindworks Georgia

We connect the dots of the behavioral health system to improve access for Georgia’s children.

Mindworks Georgia envisions a thriving community that embraces prevention and long-term mental health and substance use recovery. Mindworks and its partners
are committed to this vision by promoting evidence-based policies that support prevention, intervention, and treatment services that are innovative, person-centered, well-coordinated, and easy to navigate for children, 
youth, and young adults.

Young, smiling black man with glasses in-front of a dark green background

The Opportunity

Georgia’s children ages 0-26 and their families sit at the heart of a dynamic system of care. This complex web, which is comprised of multiple agencies with a range of objectives, programs, and services, was established to provide reliable access across a variety of settings for those in need. While the intentions are noble, the outcomes have not always met expectations, leaving families frustrated and locked out of the right to wellbeing.

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Our Unique Approach

As a collaborative, Mindworks exists to connect the dots of the behavioral health system to improve access and outcomes. In our role, we are well positioned to provide a platform that aligns people, policy, and practice. This structure allows us to design, manage, and adapt a system of care framework tailored to Georgia’s realities and its children.

Two black children hugging with a greenery backdrop

People

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Policy

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Practice

Our History

Back view of joyful mother and daughter walking on nature trail together holding hands

1990

State legislation calls for child serving state agencies to create a system of care state plan for children’s behavioral health and establishes local interagency planning teams

Portrait family, father and mother holding little girl child in summer park

2005

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) receives Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services grant to develop and implement strategies to expand system of care

teenager boy in park outdoors

2009

O.C.G.A. § 37-2-4 creates the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council (BHCC)

Close up of smiling girl with glasses against blue wall

2010

O.C.G.A. 49-5-220 designates DBHDD “the primary responsibility for planning, developing, and implementing the coordinated system of care for severely emotionally disturbed children.”
Interagency Directors Team (IDT) is founded

Portrait teenage boy smiling, carrying backpack, commute to school by train

2011

The IDT requested to partner with the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council
DBHDD creates a five-year System of Care (SOC) State Plan that guides the IDT

Smiling toddler enjoying his doctor appointment, using stethosco

2017

IDT creates three year System of Care State Plan

teenager in hijab working in a group on laptop and tablet computer

2019

The SOC director position was created to provide more leadership and guidance for state plan implementation, outward facing representation of IDT, and fiscal responsibility and maintenance of the team. Renee Johnson was hired as the SOC director.

Smiling Teenage Boy Looking Away At Beach

2020

IDT creates three year System of Care State Plan

Teenager in yellow hoodie siting at desk with laptop doing home work

2022

IDT rebrands as Mindworks Georgia

Father laughing and playing with his daughter.

2023

Mindworks Georgia creates three year System of Care State Plan creating five workgroups: Equitable Access, Sustainable Workforce, Whole Person Health, Purposeful Funding, and System Evaluation

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