FQHCs: A Cornerstone for Expanding Access

One of the top opportunities outlined in Strengthening Youth Mental Health: Essential Strategies for Georgia’s Future is to:

Reach all Georgia’s youth by enhancing mental health services in rural communities through pediatric primary care and early childhood/maternal health.

Key partners in this work are Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). These community-based clinics are a vital part of Georgia’s safety net, delivering primary and behavioral health care to families in underserved areas.

In Georgia:

• 94% of FQHC patients are low-income (at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level)

• 74% identify as racial or ethnic minorities

• Over 481,000 patients were served in 2022, including tens of thousands of children and adolescents

One exciting development: TEAM UP for Children is expanding into Georgia, joining the statewide effort to strengthen pediatric and adolescent mental health through community-based care. This proven model embeds behavioral health supports into pediatric primary care at FQHCs and equips providers through clinical training and practice transformation.

TEAM UP has demonstrated real benefits for workforce retention and collaboration. In-depth interviews with multidisciplinary staff revealed greater job satisfaction, stronger team communication, and reduced burnout.