Chatham County has been honored with a 2025 Georgia County Excellence Award for its groundbreaking Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) a recognition jointly presented by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) and Georgia Trend magazine.

The BHU is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between first responders and clinicians, designed to address mental health crises with compassion and care, rather than defaulting to arrests or ER visits, the unit connects individuals in crisis to support services that reduce recidivism, incarceration, and homelessness.

Before the BHU launched in July 2024, 92% of behavioral health-related 911 calls led to jail or hospital transports. Today, that number has dropped to just 8%, with most cases resolved on-site or diverted to appropriate care.

This innovative program was recognized as one of only six statewide winners during the ACCG Annual Conference at the Savannah Convention Center.

Read more about this award-winning initiative in the June issue of Georgia Trend.