MILLEDGEVILLE (June 8, 2009) – State Sen. Johnny Grant (R- Milledgeville) has been recognized by several prominent state publications and organizations for his tireless work to improve mental health care in Georgia. Grant was a key legislator involved with the passage of legislation ordering the restructuring of the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) this past session which he sees as a vital tool to grow the quality of life for mental health patients all over the state.
“It is quite an honor to be acknowledged for my efforts to help improve Georgia’s mental health treatment and facilities,” said Grant. “Georgia has a wonderful group of men and women committed to making mental health issues a top priority and I feel we have taken a great step forward with the reorganization of DHR this year.”
Grant was selected as one of James Magazine’s “2009 Most Influential Georgians.” James Magazine is a monthly publication covering Georgia news and issues and is recognized as Georgia’s only monthly news magazine.
Grant was also named a “Champion of Mental Health” by the Georgia Chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and received the Legislator of the Year Award from the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia. In previous years Grant has received the Star of Life Legislative Award from the Georgia Association of Emergency Medical Services, the Legislator of the Year Award from Mental Health America of Georgia, and the Legislator of the Year Award from the Georgia Association of Nurse Anesthetists. He has also received awards from the Georgia Municipal Association and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia for his support of local government.
Grant is currently serving his third term as senator from Georgia’s 25th District. He chairs the Senate State Institutions and Properties Committee and serves on the Appropriations, Health and Human Services, Public Safety, and state and Local Government Committees. In recent years he has been intensely involved in the effort to improve mental health services in Georgia. He was named to the Governor’s Mental Health Service Delivery Task Force in 2007 and chaired this year’s conference committee for House Bill 228, the legislation that sets up the new department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. He has also served on numerous study committees in the health care and criminal justice areas.
Sen. Johnny Grant serves as Chairman of the State Institutions and Property Committee. He represents the 25th Senate District which includes Baldwin, Butts, Greene, Hancock, Jasper, Morgan, Putnam, and Taliaferro counties and portions of Jones and Warren counties. He may be reached by phone at 404.656.0082 or by e-mail at johnny.grant@senate.ga.gov.
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
June 8, 2009
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
raegan.weber@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028