Georgia Apex Program 3.0

The Georgia Apex Program is a school-based mental health program is designed, funded and evaluated by the Office of Children, Young Adults & Families at the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). This program aims to address important youth behavioral health needs and concerns by embedding therapists and paraprofessionals within Georgia and provides a multitiered system of behavioral health support directly to students during the school day. DBHDD contracts with the Georgia State University¿s Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health and Wellbeing to evaluate the program and provide technical assistance. The Georgia Apex Program is a partnership between Tier 1 and Tier 2 community-based mental health providers and local school districts, with funding support from the State Entity, to help address the mental health needs of Georgia¿s students.

The goals of the Apex program are:

A.        Detection: Provide early detection of child and adolescent behavioral health needs.
B.        Access: Improve access to mental health services for children and youth.
C.        Coordination: Promote increased coordination between Georgia¿s community mental health providers and local schools/school districts in their service areas.