[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6480249,"mediaKeyId","5689956-e327434582da4445b567d655d59e7f72","parentId",5689956,"title","At a glance: Board approves special meeting and names ACCG voting delegate","audioSeconds",138,"startMs",7797000,"endMs",7935000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689956-e327434582da4445b567d655d59e7f72&start=7797&end=7935","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689956-e327434582da4445b567d655d59e7f72/thumbnail_7797000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6480249/DeKalb-County/Georgia/At-a-glance-Board-approves-special-meeting-and-names-ACCG-voting-delegate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480249-87c9f0ed7dd63cc100b5d87e985e6592/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507034&Signature=BMt5xz3llD~JUYC8Fy42qOz7Zf7WkqqbcIbdgQackl6xNRd9NV66XULXV5eqHq9rzAbKucIZott6wwkAUN760nt7Fjd~Iz~x9j6Dj6JZPisRQSFxjXhCOhKOI1UZu0Cwy1Pztyz~DvjBiHxattda-uZNhcaiHHd9SmLQ2JpitDm6DAlnekg3Lo5uUNT5JuI0DrpolGa~sSmdhI5jZ9RadhFz-GCGo3O8S-pv72i3qWSXZWHCD-AiyzyIy646cPGMP-VgodTQkTPbj1wikTdxNaNQIr2etlYB6Jq~vgG~Dkv8w-yFM6Wup94WM4ui79be6NNTCFGRuzEuHC0zZCrCdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DeKalb County","date","2025-08-28T00:00:00Z","article","The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners voted on procedural items during the Committee of the Whole on Aug. 28, approving a motion to move into a special‑called meeting and unanimously designating Commissioner Nicole Messia as the county’s 2025 voting delegate to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG).

What passed:
- Motion to convene a special‑called meeting: Commissioners voted in favor (voice vote) to proceed to a special meeting to consider a resolution designating a delegate for ACCG. The motion passed by voice vote.
- Designation of ACCG voting delegate: Commissioners nominated and voted to appoint Commissioner Nicole Messia as DeKalb County’s voting delegate for ACCG’s 2025 conference. The board approved the substitute resolution and the chair announced the vote as unanimous.

Why it matters: ACCG is the statewide association for county governments in Georgia; member counties typically designate a voting delegate to represent the county at ACCG meetings and in association business. The board flagged that a broader policy to outline an annual selection process for ACCG and National Association of Counties (NACo) delegates will be developed and considered separately.

No policy changes were adopted as a result of the vote; the action designates a representative to act as the county’s voting proxy at ACCG events.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DeKalb County - Board of Commissioners - Committee of the Whole","oneSentenceSummary","During the Aug. 28 Committee of the Whole, the DeKalb Board voted to call a special meeting and unanimously designated Commissioner Nicole Messia as DeKalb’s voting delegate to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) for 2025.","taxTitle","DeKalb County, Georgia","taxId",3571,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480253,"DeKalb delegation returns from Texas study tour with housing-first and coalition recommendations",4284,2494000,6778000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689956-e327434582da4445b567d655d59e7f72&start=2494&end=6778","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689956-e327434582da4445b567d655d59e7f72/thumbnail_2494000.jpg","/articles/6480253/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-delegation-returns-from-Texas-study-tour-with-housing-first-and-coalition-recommendations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480253-4fed7b11e45f3acba0bf574ccefbd640/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507034&Signature=a4xwq-kXONK3L8IZA3UJkZrtWfeb3x3RaauNbM7C-PKM6DP00haUnYtrcT4mURlgNLTUk9MEGPZlneLyUD~aD2QuKAadNfb5aT2yJD3VzqybM4d~wXY-eI0GoVlrRCF21aEDQnkB2Pgu9kF9a8ml6dxVbpto7Ob0L15n5vIDowiYpCPvAM27qFltPbm-gjIL19-hPLa-tiF-LicqgODQ6e~jtxombHrEvv-l3LsIGT8rkX2ApUenX4mpPbzaNxgMnCSmwn7A2v2uAC22TWzs3o151xq~ITGCvxXygiqQLMbfzoMoAU9h7mHDQiTqIgU4Y9~QmQmJQGGWkC5TFVF-ZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","DeKalb County commissioners and local leaders who traveled to San Antonio and Houston to study homelessness responses told the full Board of Commissioners on Aug. 28 that both cities rely on broad public‑private coalitions, consolidated continuums of care and Housing First models to move people into permanent housing.

Commissioner Michelle Long Spears, who led the delegation, and delegation members described cross‑sector partnerships, single‑campus service models and data systems that the group said reduced chronic homelessness and improved outcomes for people with behavioral health needs.

Why it matters: DeKalb County is considering options to strengthen its local response to homelessness. Delegation members emphasized that both San Antonio and Houston operate regional, HUD‑designated continuums of care run as independent 501(c)(3) entities, which the presenters said allowed faster funding decisions, expanded philanthropic revenue streams and impartial governance.

What the delegation saw: key takeaways presented during the meeting included:
- Haven for Hope (San Antonio): a 22‑acre campus operated by a nonprofit that combines low‑barrier shelter and transitional residential services with on‑site supportive services. Presenters said Haven for Hope has served tens of thousands of people over 15 years and reported strong cost‑benefit findings in past analyses. Delegates noted the campus model places many nonprofit partners under one roof to reduce duplication and improve access.
- Tiny‑home and permanent supportive housing models: delegates visited smaller permanent units for older adults and mixed‑use developments that pair housing with on‑site services such as medical clinics, mental‑health care and job navigation.
- Navigation centers and diversion programs (Houston/Harris County): delegates described low‑barrier “navigation” facilities and a jail‑diversion center (Harris Center) that provides assessment, short‑term stabilization and linkage to housing and treatment services. Harris County’s diversion program reported thousands of diversions and several million dollars in criminal‑justice cost savings, according to the delegation’s briefing.
- Animal‑focused services: delegates highlighted San Antonio’s partnerships that allow unhoused people to keep pets, on‑site veterinary clinics and foster/adoption networks — a factor delegates said increases shelter uptake for people reluctant to relinquish animals.
- Data and coordinated entry: both regions emphasized use of a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and shared dashboards to guide placement and measure progress.

Numbers presented by the delegation (reported by presenters): San Antonio area homelessness counts were reported at roughly 3,600 people with an estimated 51% having mental‑health concerns; delegation materials cited approximately $222 million in federal funding routed to service providers in 2025 in the region. Houston delegates said their coalition had housed more than 33,000 people since 2012 and reported a high success rate for permanent placements. The Harris County diversion program reported about 2,621 diversions with program‑level cost savings cited.

Discussion and local context: commissioners noted the Atlanta‑area governance environment is more fragmented — multiple counties and dozens of cities — compared with the single‑county examples. Delegates stressed the need for local coalition building, trust among partners and the potential benefits of an independent continuum‑of‑care entity to coordinate philanthropy and quick funding decisions. Several commissioners asked for the presentation slides to be circulated; staff said they would distribute the deck to commissioners.

Next steps: delegates urged DeKalb County leaders to consider: (1) stronger cross‑jurisdictional coordination, (2) expanding low‑barrier crisis response and diversion capacity, (3) integrating behavioral health services with housing responses, and (4) exploring funding vehicles that leverage public and philanthropic dollars. The board did not take formal action on policy changes during the Aug. 28 briefing.","Delegation members reported lessons from San Antonio and Houston: centralized coalitions (501(c)(3) continuums of care), low‑barrier crisis response, permanent supportive housing, data-driven HMIS, and integrated behavioral health and animal services.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480257,"DeKalb County hears data on employee clinic partnership with Marathon Health",1704,759000,2463000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689956-e327434582da4445b567d655d59e7f72&start=759&end=2463","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689956-e327434582da4445b567d655d59e7f72/thumbnail_759000.jpg","/articles/6480257/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-County-hears-data-on-employee-clinic-partnership-with-Marathon-Health","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480257-43fa6ed1e0dfc5ad8e193b6ae6005269/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507034&Signature=QTHoy0WAlICu-3FDZQcxdQ4M~6NYKAJ2vLTATDLLq4~8yNgWlJP6PVDM8KtDJ3uv-BOAhWmjPPumkIPKDeyWzKyCWdXHLv5DtCPyYPiQrlRlIpfEuU3dQWe9G2S7naR4o~hVnGZDvTtI4xBHZ12d2OmjvjivNc8Usvm48wRzKlOAIMv2ommTFhqTG47A9JQ-Re7z~xVtx0Xr7mRqW9QZkfuxISaPD0ak07PCk7FQ2hnFhldeitQxBuX0rsr511T1OqsT10U6pcIF4eN2xFdgqqXw5RRgJC-uLxaxU5nBIKjSuRFICh2fU-8MP-KtH4wmaec5M38Dt6j0fZkcymhttA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marathon Health representatives told the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners during the Committee of the Whole meeting on Aug. 28 that the company’s employee health center is serving county staff and their families and is showing early signs of steady utilization and patient satisfaction.

The presentation, led by Larry Morsey, vice president of government affairs at Marathon Health, and Micah Mujan, Marathon’s client success manager for DeKalb County, said the clinic served roughly 500 unique active county patients over the past 12 months and delivered more than 1,000 appointments, an average of about 2.3 visits per patient. The presenters said the clinic’s average visit length is about 35 minutes, with initial visits typically lasting about an hour, and reported a Net Promoter Score of 93 from patient experience surveys.

The county’s presiding officer, Commissioner Michelle Long Spears, introduced the presentation and asked clarifying questions about eligibility and enrollment. Marathon stated the clinic currently serves employees and families enrolled in the county’s Anthem Blue Cross plan; the company said Kaiser Permanente enrollees are not included under the existing agreement. “This is a service directly for the employers that hire us, in this case, the county,” Morsey said.

Why it matters: county health benefits are a sizable operating cost for local government budgets. Marathon said its model aims to reduce downstream costs — fewer emergency‑room visits, fewer unnecessary specialist referrals — by providing longer primary‑care visits and care coordination. Morsey cited a prior municipal partnership in Rockford, Illinois, where Marathon reported $50 million in savings over 10 years compared with prior cost trends.

Details and discussion: commissioners pressed Marathon on uptake, capacity and how referrals are handled.
- Utilization: Marathon said about 18 percent of eligible employees use the clinic; among employees with identified high or chronic risk conditions, about 29 percent were engaged with the clinic. The presenters said utilization tends to grow over time and that DeKalb’s engagement numbers are within expectations for a public‑sector program under two years old.
- Capacity: Marathon said the on‑site provider (named in the presentation as Diane) has room to see more patients now; provider utilization is monitored and the vendor typically discusses adding staff when a provider’s schedule reaches roughly 75–85 percent utilization.
- Outreach: the company described outreach strategies — flu shot drives and on‑site events in disparate county workplaces — to raise awareness among employees in physically distributed worksites.
- Specialist referrals and care coordination: Marathon described an internal e‑consult program called Rubicon MD that allows primary‑care clinicians to get specialist input within 24 hours. Marathon said the program lowers referral rates and helps ensure referrals, when needed, are to in‑network, high‑quality specialists. “We first check to see who’s in network,” Morsey said.

Limitations: Marathon said a full claims‑based return‑on‑investment analysis for DeKalb will come later, after more time in the contract; current savings cited were from other municipal clients. The company also confirmed the clinic accepts Anthem plan members only under the present agreement; expanding eligibility to Kaiser enrollees would require additional operational work and possible contract changes.

Next steps: commissioners asked Marathon to continue reporting utilization and outcomes and to return with proposals if the county reaches capacity (additional staff or new locations), or if the board wants the clinic opened to other insurer groups. Marathon said it is exploring strategic options across the Atlanta metropolitan area and can return with proposals.

The presentation closed with commissioners and staff thanking Marathon for the briefing and asking for the slide deck to be circulated to the board.","Marathon Health presented utilization, patient satisfaction and early cost‑savings indicators for the county employee clinic; commissioners asked about capacity, eligibility and specialist referrals.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

At a glance: Board approves special meeting and names ACCG voting delegate

DeKalb delegation returns from Texas study tour with housing-first and coalition recommendations

DeKalb County hears data on employee clinic partnership with Marathon Health