Highland Rivers CEO sworn in as member of Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission

Published 11:00 am Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Highland Rivers Behavioral Health CEO Melanie Dallas has been sworn in as a member of the state Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission.

Gov. Brian Kemp administered the oath during a recent ceremony at the state Capitol, also attended by first lady Marty Kemp and Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Kevin Tanner, who was reappointed as chair of the commission.

“Melanie Dallas’ leadership in behavioral health speaks for itself, and I can’t think of a better addition to the Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission,” said Tanner. “Her deep experience at Highland Rivers Behavioral Health, both in operations and on the front lines of care, gives her a unique perspective that will help shape policies with real impact. As the commission works to strengthen behavioral health in Georgia, Melanie’s expertise will be invaluable.”

The commission was created by the Georgia General Assembly in 2019 to conduct a comprehensive review of the behavioral health system in the state. The commission’s five subcommittees focus on identified priorities within Georgia’s behavioral health system and include child and adolescent behavioral health; involuntary commitment; hospital and short-term care facilities; mental health courts and corrections; and workforce and system development.

Since convening in 2020, the commission has produced four annual reports, one of which was the basis for House Bill 1013, Georgia’s Mental Health Parity Act, which was passed unanimously by the General Assembly in 2022. In her capacity as CEO of one of Georgia’s largest public behavioral healthcare agencies, Dallas had been called on to testify before the commission on several topics.

“Behavioral health — mental health, substance use treatment, disability services — is a critical component of Georgia’s healthcare system, and impacts everyone in our state, directly or indirectly,” said Dallas. “The Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission is working to enhance this essential care system — and doing very good work — and I look forward to contributing to these important efforts to the benefit of all Georgians.”

Dallas is a licensed professional counselor with 37 years of experience in behavioral health. She holds a bachelor’s in marketing from the University of Kentucky and a master’s in counseling from Georgia State University. Past appointments include the Appalachian Regional Commission Substance Abuse Advisory Council, the Policy Committee of the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards, as well as serving as a consultant to the Department of Defense, the Georgia Army National Guard and Georgia State Defense Force. She has been CEO of Highland Rivers Behavioral Health since 2014.