Clayton County Board of Commissioners Work Session - January 13, 2026

The Clayton County Board of Commissioners held a work session on January 13, 2026, from 5:30 PM to 6:49 PM. The meeting featured three presentations highlighting positive initiatives: the Central Services Mentor Protégé Program, the Co-Responder Unit partnering law enforcement with mental health professionals, and the Fire and Emergency Services Whole Blood Program. Board members expressed strong support, discussed expansion needs, and received updates on outcomes and partnerships.

Central Services Mentor Protégé Program

• Presenters: Carol Rogers (Central Services), Tammy McKenzie (Contract Compliance Manager), and Gavantez Lance (Area Director, UGA Small Business Development Center at Clayton State University).
• Program Overview: Created in February 2022, the program pairs experienced mentors with small local businesses (protégés) to build capacity for county contracts. Two cohorts per year; each cohort lasts six months of active engagement followed by monitoring. The program includes a curriculum developed with the SBDC, costing $10,000 per cohort, funded by ARPA funds.
• Testimonials: Todd Presley, co-owner of Ujama Construction (a $170 million African American-owned firm), spoke as a mentor, emphasizing the importance of giving back. A representative from Carter Construction, a protégé from the first cohort, shared how the program helped him secure contracts, including a prime contract with Clayton County for prefabricated restrooms at three parks and work on Fire Station 15.
• Discussion: Commissioner Hamburg asked about the process and job guarantees. Ms. Rogers clarified that the program provides opportunity, not guarantees, and helps protégés understand bidding. Commissioner Hamburg commended the program’s growth and requested a follow-up meeting to discuss supporting other local businesses, including dealerships.

Co-Responder Unit / Program

• Presenter: Chief Kevin Roberts, with Detective Brown (psychology background), licensed clinician Rick Redman, and Chad Jones (Chief Community Officer, Viewpoint Health).
• Program Overview: Launched in August 2025, the unit pairs a police officer with a licensed mental health professional to respond to mental health crisis calls. Hours: Monday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The unit provides on-scene de-escalation, assessment, and connection to services, aiming to divert individuals from jail or emergency rooms.
• Statistics (first 6 weeks): 95 calls responded to, 76 system referrals, 13 involuntary committals (1013s), 62 requests by uniform personnel, 44 follow-ups. The team of two (one detective, one clinician) is the only such team.
• Key Discussion: Commissioner Hamburg noted the need for weekend and 24/7 coverage. Chief Roberts stated intent to expand the program, potentially requesting board support for additional teams. Chad Jones highlighted that Senate Bill 403 (2022) funding for the co-responder program has been secured for the next year. He also discussed the need for a Behavioral Health Crisis Center (BHC) in Clayton County, which would provide walk-in drop-off, 23-hour observation, and a 30-bed crisis stabilization unit. Currently, the county lacks an emergency receiving facility, forcing reliance on hospitals that may divert mental health patients. Viewpoint Health now serves Clayton County as its fourth county and operates 18 co-responder teams statewide, the largest in Georgia.
• Commissioner Comments: Commissioner Jones thanked the team for decriminalizing mental health and noted the positive impact of follow-ups. Commissioner Hamburg asked about the percentage of calls that are purely mental health (60% per Detective Brown) and the mandatory hold process for 1013s.

CCFES Whole Blood Program – First 90 Days

• Presenters: Chief Tim Sweat, Dr. Mark Waterman (Chief Medical Officer), Chief Zach Botkin (Deputy Chief Medical Officer), Durell Moore (Laboratory Administrative Director, Southern Regional Medical Center), and Ella Lena (President/CEO, Southern Regional).
• Program Overview: Launched October 1, 2025, in partnership with Southern Regional Medical Center, which serves as the blood bank. The program allows paramedics to administer whole blood (O positive) in the pre-hospital setting for trauma and medical emergencies. The program covers adults, pediatrics, medical, and trauma—a comprehensive approach not common in metro Atlanta.
• Statistics (first 90 days): 21 patients received blood (28 units total); 17 had a pulse at hospital arrival; 14 of those 17 were discharged home; 81% survival rate. Types of incidents: 43% vehicle vs. pedestrian, 38% medical (e.g., GI bleeds), 14% gunshot wounds, 5% motor vehicle collisions. Blood administration averages one unit every four days.
• Impact: The program enables paramedics to bypass closer hospitals and transport patients directly to level one trauma centers (e.g., Grady) or level three centers (e.g., Henry), improving survival chances. One severe case received 28 additional units at Grady after pre-hospital blood. Chief Botkin noted that before the program, such patients would not have survived transport.
• Discussion: Commissioner Hamburg commended the program and asked about blood type (O positive, universal) and blood sourcing (Southern Regional). Commissioner Reid requested pedestrian safety data; Chief Roberts agreed to produce a heat map of vehicle-pedestrian incidents. Commissioner Hamburg also noted the need for a pediatric trauma center, with the closest being Grady or Arthur Blank Hospital. Southern Regional announced it is becoming a teaching hospital (45 internal medicine residents by July) and plans to designate as a trauma center this year.

Key Outcomes

• All three programs received strong board support and commendation.
• The Mentor Protégé Program will continue with two cohorts per year; Commissioner Hamburg requested a follow-up on supporting other local businesses.
• The Co-Responder Unit will seek expansion to 24/7 coverage; funding for the next year has been secured via SB 403. The Behavioral Health Crisis Center remains a priority.
• The Whole Blood Program will continue with Southern Regional; future blood drives will be held quarterly at fire headquarters and police stations. A heat map of pedestrian incidents will be provided to the board.
• The meeting adjourned at 6:49 PM.