Behavioral Health Services
The Fulton County Juvenile Court Behavioral Health Department is dedicated to the prevention, early intervention and treatment of behavioral health-related issues impacting youth and their families. The court’s licensed and/or certified clinicians deliver direct services, offer clinical support, and provide psychoeducation to children, families, court staff and to community stakeholders through trainings, presentations, and by highlighting Children’s Mental Health Awareness each year during the month of May.
The Behavioral Health team conducts and/or coordinates all court-ordered behavioral health evaluations and serves as case plan managers for children who have been deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial. Additionally, the team serves as the initial point of contact for all diversion cases to identify risk/protective factors and connect youth to programs and services. Furthermore, clinicians provide treatment and support services to participants in the Accountability Courts (CHOICES, HOPE, ASCEND), and attend all multidisciplinary team meetings and court hearings.
Ultimately, the Behavioral Health Department’s goal is to destigmatize mental illness and empower families to seek and receive effective behavioral health services and support essential to their child’s success at home, school and in the community.
Listed below are important numbers for families in crisis:
Domestic Violence Hotline
The Georgia domestic violence hotline is an extensive telephone routing system to Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) certified shelters. Calls to the hotline are automatically connected to the caller’s nearest certified shelter based on the caller’s telephone number exchange. Calls may be made 24 hours a day from anywhere in the state as well as from outside of Georgia from any phone line. Programs accepting calls have access to language interpreter services.
Children’s Hughes Spalding Hospital
Children’s Hughes Spalding Hospital is located in downtown Atlanta near Edgewood Avenue and Grady Memorial Hospital. This facility offers many services, including an Emergency Department that is open 24 hours a day.
GA Crisis/Access Helpline
The GA Crisis/Access Helpline operates 24/7 and has the capacity to screen and assess callers for intensity of service response. Services provided by the GA Crisis/Access include language assistance, emergencies, crisis assistance, and routine service access.
Child Protective Services
Child Protective Services staff are available 24/7 to take reports of child abuse and/or neglect.
If a child is misbehaving, the guardian can contact CHINS at 404-613-4515 to discuss behavior concerns with a Social Service Coordinator to determine if the youth is appropriate for CHINS services.
