Representative Katie Dempsey Appointed to Behavioral Health Coordinating Council

ATLANTA – Georgia State Representative Katie Dempsey (R- Rome) announces her appointment to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities’ Behavioral Health Coordinating Council. In this role, she will work with other Council members in developing solutions that will offer more efficient and effective delivery of behavioral health services.

“I’m honored that I was appointed to this important council,” said Representative Dempsey. “Since first being elected to the House, I have been an advocate for Georgia’s children and disabled. As a member of the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council, I will have an even greater opportunity to serve this group of Georgians and ensure they receive the quality treatment they deserve.”

Behavioral Health Coordinating Council members make recommendations that would improve service delivery to individuals served by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, including recommendations in funding, policy, practice and evaluation.

The Council consists of commissioners from Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Community Health, Human Services, Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections. The Council also includes appointments made by the Governor, including an adult consumer of public behavioral health services, a family member of a consumer of public behavioral health services, and a parent of a child receiving public behavioral health services. The council also consists of a member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and a member of the Senate, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.

Representative Dempsey was appointed by former House Speaker Mark Burkhalter (R-Johns Creek) on January 6, 2010.

For more information on the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, please visit www.dbhdd.georgia.gov.

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Representative Katie Dempsey represents the citizens of District 13, which includes portions of Floyd County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2006, and is a Majority Deputy Whip. She currently serves as the Vice Chairman for Higher Education and Secretary for the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee. She is also a member of the Economic Development & Tourism, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications, Health & Human Services, and Rules Committees.