New Report Details Highland Rivers' Service to Veterans

Highland Rivers’ commitment to Veterans highlighted in new report; more than 3,300 Veterans served since 2013

More than 3,300 veterans have been served by Highland Rivers Behavioral Health over the past decade, according to a new report released by the agency.

“ Services to Veterans, 2013-2023 ” is a retrospective data report about the agency’s services to veterans during an 11-year period from Jan. 1, 2013, through Dec. 31, 2023.

Key findings: The 3,375 veterans received 91,605 individual services for a value of $6,253,172.

“Highland Rivers has been steadfast in our commitment to serving veterans, regardless of discharge status or ability to pay,” said CEO Melanie Dallas. “This report demonstrates that commitment: Every year, we are meeting the unique behavioral health needs of hundreds of veterans, and thousands of veterans have turned to Highland Rivers for help over the past 11 years.”

Veterans have received a wide range of services from the agency, and many veterans received multiple types of services to address their complex needs. During the report period, nearly 80% (2,674) received mental health services and more than 800 received crisis services. More than 200 veterans have participated in Highland Rivers’ veteran counseling and support groups.

Other services provided to veterans include substance use treatment, community-based services, crisis respite apartments, supported employment, housing vouchers, peer support services, and veterans court.

The data also found that just under 50% of veterans served (1,652) received some level of state-contracted services — services paid for by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities for eligible individuals who do not have means to pay or are uninsured. SCS might also be used when an insurer does not pay for a service or an individual has exhausted his or her insurance coverage. Historically, approximately 10% of services to veterans have been uncompensated.

In 2022, Highland Rivers was awarded a grant through the VA’s Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Program, to enhance suicide prevention efforts among Veterans and their families in Cherokee and Pickens counties. The agency will also be opening a new drop-in veteran support center later this year in Cobb County.

Highland Rivers’ services for veterans include:

♦ individual, group, and family counseling for PTSD;

♦ family and couples counseling;

♦ medication assessments;

♦ crisis intervention and stabilization;

♦ case management;

♦ supported employment;

♦ outpatient and residential substance use recovery; and

♦ connections to community resources.

“Highland Rivers honors the service and sacrifice of our veterans. We believe in prioritizing their behavioral health needs and are committed to providing comprehensive, accessible care,” Dallas said.