Unison’s Division of Behavioral Health Holly Mc-Cloud was the guest speaker at a recent Waycross Exchange Club meeting.
McCloud was introduced by Ware County Sheriff Carl James marking a significant step toward enhancing community support services in Ware County.
The Division of Behavioral Health, a branch of Unison, oversees programs and services delivered through community-based behavioral health providers, aiming to create a recovery- oriented system of care. This initiative focuses on providing timely access to high-quality treatment and support for individuals managing severe and persistent mental illness, substance use disorders, and co-occurring conditions.
The new model represents a shift from crisisdriven responses to a prevention-focused continuum of care.
“Recovery acknowledges these are long-term conditions people will manage for life,” McCloud explained during the introduction. “Our goal is to build a system based on the strengths, wellness, and personal goals of those in recovery, offering sustained support rather than temporary fixes.”
As part of this effort, the Ware County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the Division to appoint Victoria Landis as a co-responder. Landis, a trained peer counselor, works alongside deputies to assist citizens experiencing emotional distress — situations where law enforcement alone may not suffice.
“Sometimes deputies encounter people with suicidal thoughts, addictions or domestic violence issues,” said Sheriff James. “Victoria’s role is to provide the kind of intervention and follow-up support that goes beyond what our team is trained to do.”
Landis brings a unique perspective to her work, leveraging her training to connect with individuals in crisis.
“Having someone with a friendly face can make all the difference in gaining trust,” she said.
Since joining the sheriff’s office, Landis has responded to 70 calls in recent months. Of those, she reports that 40 percent of individuals have voluntarily sought inpatient or outpatient therapy following her intervention—a promising sign of the program’s impact.
The collaboration underscores a broader mission to integrate behavioral health support into public safety efforts, ensuring that residents receive compassionate, effective care when they need it most. “This partnership is about meeting people where they are and helping them take the next step toward recovery,” Landis added.
Sheriff James expressed optimism about the program’s future, emphasizing its potential to strengthen the community.
“With Holly, Victoria, and the team at Unison, we’re building a safer, healthier Ware County — one person at a time,” the sheriff said.
For more information about the Division of Behavioral Health’s services, residents are encouraged to contact Unison Behavioral Health or the Ware County Sheriff’s Office.
