(Gwinnett County, Ga., October 11, 2023) – The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office Mental Health Task Force continues to cultivate relationships that provide essential mental health services to the community. The Sheriff’s Office announces a landmark partnership between the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office Mental Health Task Force and Positive Impact Health Centers (PIHC).

This partnership incorporates a streamlined referral and intake process for individuals currently incarcerated and will provide services to them immediately upon their release. PIHC provides many services including comprehensive HIV care, mental health counseling, addiction treatment, pharmacy services, dental care, intensive outpatient treatment programs, and housing assistance.

The continuity of care made possible due to PIHC’s screening and acceptance procedure makes this partnership crucial to the health of these patients. PIHC completes the screening process prior to the release of the patient from jail. Once that process is complete, a member of the Mental Health Task Force will schedule an assessment specialist from PIHC to visit the patient in the jail to map out their treatment plan. This creates continuous care from the first day the patients are released. Once out of confinement they are immediately transitioned to PIHC where all services are grant funded for eligible patients. Transportation to a PIHC facility is also offered upon release.

The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office will continue to form partnerships with the mental health community to reduce recidivism and provide a positive impact to those affected by mental health issues. For more information, please visit PositiveImpactHealthCenters.org.