S e p t e m b e r 2 2 , 2 0 2 2 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 6 , N o . 3 8
Crisis call line logs high use in first weeks By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
Emergency service upgrade
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
See HOTLINE, Page 10
Johns Creek’s 2023 budget includes $300,000 to go toward construction and replacement of Fire Station 63, the oldest fire station serving the city. The nearly 40-year-old building has experienced ongoing structural issues, and Fire Chief Chris Coons said the new building will incorporate a permanent home for the Police Department’s South Precinct. Read more, Page 6.
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Fulton School Board begins redistricting process
ATLANTA — While data collection is still in the early stages, the 9-8-8 Georgia Steering Committee informed the public of trends seen in the first 45 days of the program’s rollout at a Sept. 7 webinar. “Just over 50 days ago we took the first steps down a long road towards transforming Georgia’s crisis system and making it easy for those experiencing a behavioral health crisis to know who to call in an emergency,” said Judy Fitzgerald, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) commissioner. In 2020, Congress designated the new 9-8-8 dialing code to be operated through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Beginning July 16 of this year, individuals in crisis could call or text 9-8-8 for 24/7 care. “The similarity to 9-1-1 was a message to everyone, saying the behavioral health crisis needs to be at the forefront here,” Fitzgerald said. “I
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