Jessica Hatcher, assistant vice president of the Coliseum Center for Behavioral Health, was recently elected to chair the Region 2 Advisory Council of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

Regional Advisory Council members are appointed by their County Commissioners to advocate for those in need of behavioral health, developmental disability and addictive disease services throughout their county and region. Region 2 serves 33 counties: Baldwin, Barrow, Bibb, Burke, Clarke, Columbia, Elbert, Emanuel, Glascock, Greene, Hancock, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jenkins, Jones, Lincoln, Madison, McDuffie, Monroe, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Twiggs, Walton, Warren, Washington, Wilkes and Wilkinson.

Council members inform county commissioners, local legislators and stakeholders of current behavioral health, developmental disabilities and addictive diseases issues and community needs.  As the chair of this advisory council, Hatcher will work with local community groups to advocate for resources needed within the region.  Council members also promote public awareness of behavioral health issues.