Adult Services

The BHA is completed by a therapist and designed to help identify behavioral health problems and assist the nurse practitioner and/or psychiatrist in figuring out the best way to address them. The BHA provides the nurse practitioner and/or psychiatrist with a complete picture of a person’s thoughts, feelings, behaviors, symptoms and stressors.  An important goal of the assessment is to identify any current or potential concerns that may affect a person’s daily life, relationships, school, or work.  The assessment will include the therapist talking with the individual and asking questions to determine possible treatment options, plan of care and diagnostic impression. 

Walk-in Assessments available at our Outpatient Clinics 5 Days a Week.

Crisis intervention services are intended to provide care to the individual seeking help while experiencing thoughts of harm to self or others. Crisis services may also address individuals who are unsafe to care for themselves, at the moment, due to unmanaged mental health or substance use symptoms. The goal of crisis intervention is to ensure safety through de-escalation and safety planning or by linkage to a higher level of care such as hospitalization. Crisis intervention is available to individuals 18 and above at the Legacy Behavioral Health Crisis Center and for all ages at one of the Legacy Outpatient clinics during normal business hours. 

Physician Services may be provided by a Psychiatrist or Nurse Practitioner.  This service begins with identification of psychiatric issues by reviewing the BHA, conducting mental examinations, asking questions, and ordering blood and/or urine lab tests.  Ongoing care consists of repeated assessments and monitoring of an individual’s response to treatment with medication and clinical services. Referrals for other types of services, both at Legacy and outside of Legacy, may also be provided if needed.

Nursing Services are provided to all enrolled individuals at least once a year and are intended to allow the ability to assess, monitor and coordinate care for the physical, nutritional, and psychiatric needs that may arise during an individual’s course of treatment. This includes monitoring an individual’s response to medication, educating the individual and family about diagnoses and medication and its possible side effects, and training for self-administration of medication. Assessment of physical health may include vital signs, screenings, documentation of a complete health history, medication and allergy lists, and collecting blood and/or urine lab tests.  Nurse also provide care coordination which allows for identification of opportunities for education and/or physical health referrals such as primary care providers, specialists, dentists, etc.

Individual therapy involves meeting with a therapist one-on-one to discuss thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a safe and confidential space. Therapists use evidence-based practices to help the person understand their issues, develop coping skills and make positive changes in their life. Goals of individual therapy can be to improve quality of life, overcome obstacles, increase positive feelings, learn skills for handling difficult situations, make healthy decisions, and to reach personal goals. Individual therapy may also address specific topics such as parenting, shoplifting, and gambling.

Group services involve one or more therapists treating a small group of individuals together to address personal, relationship, or societal issues. The therapist uses evidence-based practices to create a safe space for individuals to share their experiences, learn from other people, and build a sense of community and support. The goals of group therapy can include relieving distress, changing unwanted behaviors and habits, and building coping skills.

Family Services may include process sessions or skills and training sessions with identified members of the family unit working with the therapist. The family is viewed as a system where the actions and behaviors of one member can affect the whole family. The therapist uses evidence-based practices to provide a supportive, nonjudgmental, and safe environment that allows the family to talk openly. The goals of family therapy include improving communication, resolving conflicts, strengthening relationships, and promoting the overall well-being of the family.

CSS includes a variety of programs with the goal of enabling individuals to live independently, participate in community life, and achieve their personal goals. These programs may offer linkage to resources in the community or training and skill-building.

Supported Employment services are available to any current client who is diagnosed with a mental illness and desires to work. SE services include support to access benefits counseling, identifying vocational skills and interests, and developing and implementing a rapid job search plan to obtain employment that is based on the individual’s strengths, preferences, abilities, and needs.  

Peer Support is an evidence-based service provided by individuals who have lived experience with mental illness and/or substance use disorder. Certified Peer Specialists have successfully navigated their own recovery and have been trained and certified to provide ongoing support to individuals and their families receiving mental health and/or substance use recovery supports and services.  Peer Specialists provide interventions which promote socialization, recovery, wellness, self-advocacy, development of natural supports, and maintenance of community living skills. Peer Groups provide a safe and supportive space for individuals to share their experiences and learn from each other as they continue toward their own recovery. Activities are provided between and among individuals who have common issues and needs that are client motivated, initiated and/or managed, and assist individuals in living as independently as possible.

Known as a “Hospital Without Walls,” ACT is an evidence-based treatment model that is a person-centered, recovery-oriented, and highly intensive community-based service for individuals who have serious and persistent mental illness. This service is intended for individuals whose mental health condition has greatly affected his or her ability to function in the community.  A multidisciplinary team provides a variety of interventions including: psychiatry, nursing, therapy, case management, peer support, skill building, housing support, employment and vocational supports, and other recovery-oriented services. ACT is a unique treatment approach in which the majority of mental health services are provided directly by the ACT Team in the individual’s natural environment (such as in the home). ACT services focus on social inclusiveness through relationship building and assisting individuals to achieve a stable and structured lifestyle. 

Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness, PATH, is designed to provide outreach services to individuals with serious mental illness (including those with co-occurring substance use disorders) who are homeless or are at imminent risk of becoming homeless.  The PATH team outreaches to those living on the streets, homeless shelters and camps to identify individuals who are homeless and at high risk for health issues. PATH connects willing individuals to resources available within the community to help end their homeless cycle. Individuals must engage in outreach services to get assistance.

HUM provides support to individuals who experience challenges and barriers in accessing and remaining enrolled in desired community-based services and supports. Using a data-driven process, the HUM program identifies and provides assertive linkage, referral, and short-term care coordination for individuals with behavioral health challenges who have a documented history of high crisis service utilization. The program offers support, education, and navigation to assist at-risk individuals who could benefit from the removal of barriers to accessing community-based treatment.

MAT is a non-intensive outpatient program that provides comprehensive, evidence-based services for individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder and co-occurring mental health conditions. Our program utilizes Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) as part of a whole-person approach to promote long-term recovery and functional wellness. The MAT Program provides specific interventions for reducing or eliminating the use of illicit opioids and other drugs of abuse while helping individuals develop a social support network and create necessary lifestyle changes. Services are delivered in a very structured environment and include psychiatry, nursing, medication administration and management, individual/group/family services, ADSS, and peer support. 

Family Violence Intervention Programs (FVIP) are designed to rehabilitate family violence offenders by holding them accountable and prioritizing victim safety. Participants in this program are court ordered to participate in FVIP program and LBH contracts with the Georgia Commission on Family Violence and Department of Community Supervision to provide the FVIP groups conducted by a certified FVIP facilitator. Participants complete an orientation/application interview with the FVIP facilitator prior to beginning classes, explaining all the requirements of the program. 

Legacy’s Anger Management Program offers treatment to individuals who experience anger outbursts or are prone to violent behavior. The program is designed to teach individuals new ways to manage anger, understand triggers, and tools to prevent violence. The Anger Management program is available to individuals who are being required to attend by court order or probation or by voluntary admission.

Legacy’s Jail In-Reach program is a collaboration with local community jails to provide community support services through community transition planning for adults aged 18 and older who are about to be released from jail or were recently released.  The Jail In-Reach program is designed to improve outcomes for individuals and help them successfully reintegrate into the community.  The goal of Jail In-Reach program is to reduce repeated incarcerations, hospitalizations, and homelessness by providing access to necessary services and resources.