Highland Rivers Health named outstanding provider

DALTON -- Highland Rivers Health was named Region 1 Outstanding Provider for Behavioral Outpatient and Crisis Services by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) at the state agency’s annual behavioral health symposium earlier this month.

Highland Rivers was recognized from among dozens of behavioral health providers with which DBHDD has contracts in the 31-county area of north Georgia it designates as Region 1.

“Highland Rivers is most deserving of being recognized as the outstanding provider for behavioral health outpatient and crisis services in DBHDD’s Region 1,” said Judy Fitzgerald, Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. “This achievement took a team effort on a large scale. We congratulate you on this success and support your continued efforts to provide high quality services to individuals in the northwest region of the state.”

Highland Rivers Health is one of Georgia’s 26 community service boards, agencies designated by the state as safety-net providers of treatment and recovery services for mental health, substance use, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. The agency operates nine outpatient clinics across its 12-county service area that provide individual, group, family and peer outpatient and intensive outpatient services for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders.

In addition, Highland Rivers operates three crisis units that provide acute mental health crisis stabilization and substance detoxification on a shortterm basis. The three crisis facilities, which operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, have a combined capacity of 74 beds and serve approximately 5,000 individuals annually from across Region 1. Highland Rivers’ crisis services and its outpatient services are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) International.

“Highland Rivers is a very large agency that works with vulnerable individuals who often have very complex diseases and face many challenges,” said Melanie Dallas, CEO of Highland Rivers Health. “However, we also have an incredibly dedicated team of professionals that work daily to ensure we meet the needs of every individual who comes to us for services to help them overcome the barriers and challenges of their disease and find hope for recovery. I am extremely proud to have the quality of our staff and our services recognized by DBHDD.”

One of the state’s largest providers of comprehensive behavioral health services, Highland Rivers employs approximately 650 staff and serves more than 16,000 individuals annually.