Daigle selected to serve on mental health board by Mayor Denson
Jolie Daigle, an associate professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Development Services in the College of Education at the University of Georgia, was recently selected to serve on the Region 2 Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases Regional Planning Board by Mayor Nancy Denson and the Athens-Clarke County Commission.
Region 2 represents 33 counties—including Athens, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe—and operates a community-based system of care for people living with developmental disabilities and behavioral health challenges. The system allows clients to receive care in less restrictive settings while helping them obtain a life of independence.
"It felt very validating," Daigle said about her selection to the board. "I was honored to have been selected by Mayor Denson and the ACC Commission."
During her three-year term, Daigle will meet with consumers and their families to assess their regional mental health needs and recommend priorities for behavioral health and developmental disabilities services.
Daigle's expertise in positive behavioral interventions and the social/emotional development of children lends her a unique understanding of youth mental health. Her extensive experience using evidence-based practices will be used to assess the office's services to consumers.
One of Daigle's biggest goals as a board member is to decrease the social stigma of having a mental health-related disorder and receiving treatment. Additionally, she aims to increase health care access for underserved populations, including disadvantaged youth, marginalized groups and rural communities.
Along with teaching, Daigle serves as a board member of The Cottage Sexual Assault and Children's Advocacy Center. She is also a certified instructor for youth mental health first aid courses.
Her research interests include service-learning in counseling training programs, dropout prevention, the clinical preparation of school counselors and women in academia.