Lobbying prevents closure of emergency psychiatric unit.

The article presents information about successful lobbying against closure of emergency psychiatric unit. Law enforcement, government and medical officials have successfully lobbied to save an emergency psychiatric center in Georgia. DeKalb Crisis Center was preparing to close its emergency evaluation service and reduce the number of beds for residential treatment from 42 to 16 after being told the state would no longer provide special funding. Lobbyists went to the regional planning board and argued that closing the center would place a burden on emergency rooms and the county jail, which are less able to serve people experiencing a psychiatric crisis.