Our History
1999
The J. B. Fuqua Foundation establishes The Fuqua Center for Late-Life Depression at the Wesley Woods Center at Emory University. Dr. William McDonald is named Director and Eve Byrd is named the Associate Director.
2000
A Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist is hired to expand clinical care to Atlanta Assisted Living Facilities (ALF's) and Retirement Communities. Primary Care Initiative: Integrating Mental Health and Primary Care pilot project launched in partnership with National Mental Health Association of Georgia. J.B. Fuqua Foundation approves funding for community education, training and clinical service programs related to the detection and treatment of late-life depression. The Advisory Board is formed.
2001
Fuqua Center Referral Network created; the Referral Network helps older adults in rural communities locate geriatric mental health clinicians practicing in their areas. Eve Byrd chairs the Atlanta Area Aging and Mental Health Task Force. Fuqua Center holds its first statewide training entitled, "Is It Depression? Recognizing Mental Illness in Older Adults and Making the Appropriate Referral" together with The State of Georgia Department of Human Resources/Area Agencies on Aging. Fuqua Center holds its first continuing education program for professionals; "Recognizing and Treating Older Adults’ Depression: A Medical/Social Work Approach," cosponsored by the University of Georgia and Georgia State University Departments of Social Work.
2002
Fuqua Center receives funding from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to teach Community Care Service Program (CCSP) care coordinators how to screen and refer frail older adults living in their homes for depression. Fuqua Center receives funding from Janssen Pharmaceutica to develop a depression/dementia e-learning program.
2003
Fuqua Center/Emory Healthcare Website goes live; website contains referral network, information about educational products, depression screening tools and patient forms. Toll-free Fuqua Center Depression Information line established; line staffed by a nurse from 7am-7pm. A second community-based advanced practice nurse is hired to provide services in assisted living facilities.
2004
Fuqua Center receives additional funding from the Fuqua Foundation through the Wesley Woods Foundation to enhance geriatric psychiatry services in Wesley Woods Towers and Budd Terrace. Fuqua Center receives initial funding from Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Aging to expand the CCSP training project initially funded by AFSP. Dr. McDonald participates in the Blues Brothers panel discussion held at Skyland Trail and the Delta Burke, Go On and Live! Program.
2005
Fuqua Center receives additional funding to expand CCSP training project to an additional 71 counties. Our third advanced practice nurse is hired to expand outpatient and community clinic care services. Fuqua Center provides clinic services in 17 residential facilities. Approximately, 1800 people were reached by Fuqua Center community education activities.
2006
Dr. McDonald named Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine. Fuqua Center begins offering videoconferencing geriatric psychiatry services statewide through the Georgia Telemedicine Project.
2007
The Fuqua Center begins partnership with The Georgia Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (GAHSA) and The Georgia Institute on Aging to provide training on early detection of depression and other mental illnesses for service coordinators representing approximately 16 retirement communities in Georgia.
2008
The Fuqua Center trains service providers in the PEARLS (Program to Encourage Active Rewarding Lives for Seniors) model. Dr. McDonald and Eve Byrd present at the AAHSA (American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging) in Philadelphia. The Fuqua Center receives funding from the Jesse Parker William Foundation to increase services to frail elderly in assisted living facilities.
2009
The Fuqua Center continues to work closely with aging and housing services organizations to increase community and professional awareness of psychiatric illness in older adults. In collaboration with DeKalb and Fulton counties, the Fuqua Center participated in the planning and implementation of SPARC events (Sickness Prevention Achieved Through Regional Collaboration) designed to increase the utilization of preventative health care services including immunizations and health screenings by providing these services in the community at locations that are easily accessible to older adults. In collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Suicide Prevention Division, the Fuqua Center helped to develop an Older Adult Suicide Prevention Plan. William McDonald, M.D., was appointed as Special Advisor to the Governor for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, working with mental health advocates and providers of services to determine priorities for building a robust network of community mental health services in Georgia. Eve H. Byrd, MSN, MPH, received the Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association Dancing Elephant Award which is given to a person who is not a psychiatrist that has significantly contributed to the delivery of psychiatric services.
2010
The Fuqua Center for Late-Life Depression celebrates its 10 Year Anniversary. Several events were held to honor the organizations and people whose valued partnerships have enabled the Fuqua Center to succeed in developing a continuum of evidence-based treatment options and clinical services for older adults, in improving access to clinical services for older adults, and in providing of extensive community outreach aimed at educating those who serve older adults. The celebration can be viewed by clicking on the following site: www.youtube.com/watch
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