Georgia Department of Human Services

Medical Director Presentation to DHS Board of Directors

Presenter: Debora S. Johnson, MD

Presentation to: DHS Board of Directors

Date: April 15th, 2015

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Vision, Mission and Core ValuesVision

Stronger Families for a Stronger Georgia.

MissionStrengthen Georgia by providing Individuals and Families access to services that promote self-sufficiency, independence, and protect Georgia's vulnerable children and adults.

Core Values• Provide access to resources that offer support and empower Georgians and

their families. • Deliver services professionally and treat all clients with dignity and respect.

Manage business operations effectively and efficiently by aligning resources across the agency.

• Promote accountability, transparency and quality in all services we deliver and programs we administer.

• Develop our employees at all levels of the agency.

The Medical Role In The Department of Human Services• The role of medical director was created

to assist with the growing number of children on psychotropic medications in state custody/foster care.

• Provide medical leadership and support to two divisions of DHS – DFCS and DAS

• One medical director fulfilled this role in the past. Position had been vacant for about 4 months before January 2nd, 2015.

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Medical Director Role Continued

• Onboarding began January 2nd, 2015• Began assessment of Department of Human

Services Needs• Expectation that Medical Director provides

coverage for DFCS and DAS medical needs.

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Medical Director Roles - DHS

• Attend DHS Leadership Team Meetings• Attend DAS Team Meetings – Dr. Jay Bulot and

Jean O’Callahan• Attend meetings with DFCS Director Bobby Cagle

and Deputy Director Virginia Pryor• Working collaboratively with DBHDD and DPH

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• Representing DHS to external organizations• DHS representative to Georgia Families 360 –

Monitoring and Oversight Committee• DHS/DFCS representative to Georgia 360

Procurement Committee• BHCC – Behavioral Health Coordinating Council

External representation for DHS

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External Representation for DHS

• IDT – Interagency Development Council – group of leaders from DBHDD, DJJ, DOE, COE, DFCS, The Carter Center – tasked to develop a system of care to collaboratively manage the needs of Georgia’s Children and Adolescents

• Attended Together Georgia Executive Meeting – Presented to the provider group which consists of children and family welfare providers

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DFCS – Training Initiatives

• Established monthly training sessions in mental health for caseworkers and case managers. Initial presentation of Major Depression in Children and Adolescents on March 18th, 2015 – had over 123 participant groups.

• Co – facilitator in mental health presentation of ADHD in children/adolescents – over 100 participant groups on March 24th, 2015

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DFCS – Training Initiatives

• Established initial webinar on Psychopharmacology in Children and Adolescents – April 7th, 2015 – over 120 participant groups

• Ongoing web conferences in psychopharmacology will occur on a monthly basis

• Medical Education Initiative – Will meet with CHOA - Ron Frieson, Chief Public Health Officer and Dr. Salinas, Chief Medical Officer of CHOA – develop medical education series for DFCS

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DFCS Initiatives

• Medical Professional Network – collaborate with Director Bobby Cagle, Dr. Jordan Greenbaum of CHOA to plan and develop a network of child abuse professionals in each region and possibly each county in Georgia.

• Currently reviewing a similar program in Pennsylvania that has been in existence for 10 years.

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DFCS Consultation

• Participates in CDSI review panel with DFCS, OCA, OHRMD, OIG, and GBI – establish new practices to decrease child abuse, neglect, and death

• Medical review of “cold cases” – medically/psychiatrically fragile children in care over 18 months

• Medication consent review for children in outpatient treatment/PRTF facilities

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External Representation for DFCS

• Participation in monitoring committee for Amerigroup and Georgia Families 360 – Oversight of healthcare that is provided by CMO to Georgia children in care

• Appointment to Georgia Child Advocacy Council

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DAS Initiatives

• Establishment of Mental Health Training for case managers and case workers

• Established initial mental health series – Introduction to Psychopharmacology on March 17th, 2015. Over 80 participants

• Ongoing mental health training is planned for the agency

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DAS Initiatives

• Complete complex medical consent for the elderly or developmentally disabled adults– “Right to refuse treatment”– Complex surgery request – involved cervical fracture– Psychopharmacology review

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DAS Initiatives

• Participated in Community Conversations in Alzheimers

• Future participation in Yellow Dot program

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Medical Director Vision for Expansion

• Physicians/Mental health technicians to assist with medical/mental health training of staff

• Nurse practictioners – to assist with medication review for DFCS/DAS

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