Grants awarded for mental health courts

By Bill Rankin

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Mental health courts in DeKalb and Cobb counties were among 20 statewide that received $353,676 in grants, the Administrative Office of the Courts said.

The DeKalb Magistrate Court's Diversion Treatment Court received a $37,500 grant, and the Cobb Family Dependency Treatment Court and Cobb Juvenile Drug Court were each awarded $4,473. The state Judicial Council approved grants for courts that bring together mental health professionals, social programs and judicial monitoring to cut recidivism rates of mentally ill offenders.

Other courts receiving $37,500 grants: Appalachian Judicial Circuit Mental Health Court, Bibb County Mental Health Court, Chatham County Juvenile Mental Health Court, Enotah Mental Health Court, Hall County Mental Health Court, Henry County Mental Health Court and Piedmont Adult Mental Health Court.

Others receiving $4,473 grants:  Appalachian Juvenile Drug Court, Augusta Adult Drug Court, Chatham County Family Dependency Treatment Court, Cherokee Adult Drug Court, Douglas County Family Dependency Treatment Court, Griffin Adult Drug Court, Muscogee Adult Drug Court, Pataula Judicial Circuit Adult Drug Court, Waycross Adult Drug Court and Western Circuit Adult Drug Court.