District 3 Commissioner Jasper Watkins was recently appointed to the ACCG Standing Committee on Mental Health & Substance Abuse for the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia. Established by current ACCG President and Baldwin County Commissioner Henry Craig, the committee is tasked with creating an information clearinghouse for all 159 Georgia counties to equip them with resources to address the complex issue that is mental health.
 
“As a veteran, I’ve witnessed the personal struggles associated with the transition from military to civilian life and recognize the importance of collaborating on solutions to address these sensitive topics,” said Watkins. “I am thankful to ACCG President Henry Craig for my appointment to the Mental Health Committee. I look forward to serving alongside the state’s esteemed members to tackle mental health and substance abuse challenges.”

Chaired by Forsyth County Commissioner Cindy Mills, committee members will work to create an intermediary for counties to share and access information on best practices for serving citizens with mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. It comprises of five subcommittees: Public Safety; Data/Evaluation/Mapping; Courts: Mental Health, Drug, Probate, and Juvenile; Resources: Funding, Workforce, and Facilities; and Community Partnerships. Watkins will co-chair the Public Safety Subcommittee with Cook County Commissioner Audie Rowe. The work of the full committee will also help counties identify key local, state, and federal resources; establish effective initiatives; and create impactful partnerships.

 “Mental health challenges are often a crisis for most local communities. As counties are the closest constitutional government to their constituents, we are on the front line of reform efforts,” said ACCG President Henry Craig. “The work of the ACCG Standing Committee on Mental Health & Substance Abuse will serve as one of many contributions to encourage statewide renewal of policy and resources to address the prevalent issue of care for Georgians with mental illness and substance addiction.”

The committee convened its first meeting on June 21 at the Baldwin County Government Office in Milledgeville.