Coweta Cares receives Georgia County Excellence Award
Photo above: Coweta Cares paramedic Russell Shoemake (credit: DaemonPictures.com)
From Special Reports
Coweta County is thrilled to announce that Coweta Cares, a mobile integrated healthcare program, has been awarded a 2021 Georgia County Excellence Award for its innovative approach to community investment by ACCG, Georgia’s County Association.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work and quality of care provided by Coweta Cares since we began operations prior to the pandemic,” shares Michael Fouts, Coweta County Administrator. “The team’s innovative efforts, passion for improving the program and our partnerships have enabled Coweta County to be a leader in changing the standard of care for behavioral health and stroke patients.”
Coweta Cares was developed by local partners committed to reinvesting existing resources to better serve citizens. In partnership with local public safety agencies and other community stakeholders, including Pathways Center, Georgia Department of Public Health and Piedmont Newnan Hospital, the program was approved in October 2018 by the Coweta County Board of Commissioners and launched in March 2019.
“The vision for Coweta Cares was to provide patient-centered care to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis without having to navigate the complex healthcare system,” adds Fouts. “The traditional model of transporting these patients to the hospital or possibly jail does not provide the care needed and strains public safety and public health resources in the community.”
Coweta Cares addresses a common, community need – providing mental health assessments and care on the front lines. Care that is appropriate for the situation, care that has the capacity to provide ongoing support and coordination, and care that is provided in most cases without the need for an emergency room or law enforcement.
Based on the program’s success and availability of funds through the American Rescue Plan, Coweta County is confident that the Coweta Cares program will expand from one 12-hour unit to operate 24/7 this year.
To learn more about Coweta Cares and the other 2021 Georgia County Excellence Award winners, please check out the June issue of Georgia Trend magazine and in the summer issue of ACCG’s Georgia County Government magazine. Visit the online feature here: https://www.georgiatrend.com/2021/05/31/community-investment/.
