The Board of Directors of DeKalb Community Service Board (DeKalb CSB) today announced the appointment of Debra DeBerry, Clerk of Superior Court of DeKalb County. DeKalb CSB is a public nonprofit organization that provides evidence-based behavioral health and developmental disability services to individuals in need.
“DeKalb CSB is an important conduit in our community and county for mental health and crisis services,” said DeBerry. “My motivation for joining the Board of DeKalb CSB was to help garner more necessary funding and to build awareness of mental illness and the organizations that provide services to those affected by it. With this new role, I hope to bring to light the statistics and facts of mental health, the lack of treatment and funding, and how it critically affects every citizen in our community.”
DeBerry is a 20-year resident of DeKalb County with over 35 years of experience in the public and private sector. In 2002, her career in DeKalb County began as Chief Deputy Clerk of Superior Court. In her current position as Clerk of Superior Court, DeBerry manages over one hundred employees who provide services to the citizens of the county and she also manages an annual budget of over $6 million dollars.
In addition to hosting the County’s annual Mental Health Forum, a forum created to address the overall current state of mental healthcare in DeKalb County, DeBerry has also formed an alliance with Briggs and Associates – an agency which assists the mentally and physically challenged with employment and has hired three employees through the agency.
“Mental health has always been near and dear to my heart. While I can continue to talk about the need for more funding, assistance and legislation for those with mental disabilities; you have to do more. Little by little and piece by piece we can all do something.”
The DeKalb County based nonprofit said in addition to her new role with DeKalb CSB, DeBerry serves on the Board of the New Power PAC and serves as a Board Member for the South DeKalb YMCA. DeBerry’s appointment expands the DeKalb CSB Board to 11 directors.
DeKalb CSB is a public, nonprofit organization that provides a wide range of evidence-based behavioral health and developmental disability services. Through more than 20 locations across DeKalb County, DeKalb CSB serves more than 10,000 children, adolescents and adults annually to help them recover and resume productive lives. DeKalb CSB employs more than 500 staff, and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
The public is invited to DeKalb CSB board meetings, held bimonthly on the fourth Thursday in Room 421 of the EL Richardson Health Center, 445 Winn Way in Decatur. For more information, visit www.dekcsb.org or call 404.508.7875.
