Advocacy Committee
Advocacy Committee Membership
- Valera Hudson, MD; Chair, Augusta
- Kathryn Cheek, MD; Columbus
- Natalie Lane, MD; Augusta
- Barbara Menchan, MD; Columbus
- Heather Newsome, MD; Savannah
- Rebecca Reamy, MD; Columbus
- Dan Salinas, MD; Atlanta
Advocacy Committee Goals
| Goal Description | Goal Objectives |
| – Obtain grant support to implement a statewide program. – Obtain support for a statewide program to expand access to behavioral and mental health services within the primary care medical home, in collaboration with Resilient Georgia. | – Work with Resilient Georgia to identify a grant. – Embed mental health providers (Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Social Worker, etc.) within the pediatric medical home – Alleviate the financial impact for practices unable to afford this on their own – Remove barriers to access to mental health providers by placing them where children feel safe and have an established relationship – Provide education to pediatric providers on diagnosis and treatment of behavioral health problems in children – Support pediatric providers by offering a “warm hand off” for patients with more severe problems |