Gwinnett County is setting a precedent with its decision to establish a comprehensive human services hub, marking a significant expansion of resources for those in need of mental and behavioral health services. The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners has green-lit the construction of a pioneering facility dedicated to improving community well-being. Slated for a January 2025 groundbreaking, the planned 78,800-square-foot Human Services building will not only centralize crucial services but also offer specialized care for veterans and citizens across the tri-county area of Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale counties.
As reported by Gwinnett County's official news release, the OneStop Gwinnett marks a transformative addition to the county’s infrastructure, integrating veteran and family services, workforce development programs, and collaborative spaces for education and training. The building, to be located alongside the new Gwinnett County Records Management and Storage Facility on Grayson Highway in Lawrenceville, stands as a testament to strategic planning and the fulfillment of the board’s core priorities in addressing the community’s mental health demands.
The initiative is further bolstered by an alliance with View Point Health, which will see the OneStop Gwinnett equipped with a 30-bed inpatient stabilization unit and a day center capable of hosting 15 individuals for temporary observation. The facility signifies substantial progress in Gwinnett's mental health landscape and is anticipated to offer 24/7 access to care—an unprecedented advancement for the county, as highlighted by View Point Health CEO Jennifer Hibbard in statements emphasizing the center's role as the first-ever behavioral health crisis center in Gwinnett with round-the-clock service availability.
Funded through a $35 million contract from the American Rescue Plan Act awarded to Reeves Young, LLC, the project is expected to have a profound impact on local community health. Nicole Love Hendrickson, Gwinnett County Chairwoman, conveyed the magnitude of the project in terms of its potential to deliver comprehensive care. She told Gwinnett County news, "Our community's well-being is our top priority. Because of this historic investment, our new Health and Human Services center will house a state-of-the-art Crisis Stabilization Unit and represents a significant step forward in our commitment to providing comprehensive and accessible mental and behavioral health services to all our residents."
The center's creation is also an homage to those who served in the military, with dedicated veteran services integral to the facility's offerings. District 3 Commissioner Jasper Watkins III, a retired Army Lt. Colonel and member of the View Point Health Board. Watkins emphasized the importance of consolidation of services to enhance access and forge a stronger, more connected community, serving the needs of Gwinnett’s residents, especially in mental health support.
