Verification Forms

The following forms may be useful in dealing with verification procedures. If you have any questions about free legal service providers, or the check list for verification, please contact us using the form at the bottom of this page.

Affidavit of Lawful Presence in the U.S.

List of Free Legal Service Providers

Verification Checklist

Veteran Resources

VetBuds
Lawrenceville, GA group

Women Veteran Health Care
Implementing positive changes in providing care for all women Veterans

Veterans PTSD
VA’s center of excellence for research and education on the prevention, understanding and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Veterans Public Health

Health Benefits
Start here to learn what VA health benefits you are eligible and apply for care.

Helpful Phone Numbers

Health Benefits: 877-222-VETS (8387)
Other VA Benefits: 800-827-1000
Homeless Services: 877-424-3838

Compensated Work Therapy
A vocational rehabilitation program to match and support work ready veterans in competitive jobs.

Mental Health
Maintaining and improving the health and well-being of Veterans through excellence in health care, social services, education, and research.

MyHealtheVet
Anywhere, anytime Internet access to VA health care information and services.

Gwinnett Food Banks

The following is a list of food banks currently operating in Gwinnett County. Published January, 2013. Please note that the information may change without notice. Please contact food banks directly to verify.

Hands of Christ – A Duluth Cooperative Ministry
Email: duluthcoop@peoplepc.com
www.duluthco-op.org
(770)623-9563
3395 Fox Street, Suite 101, Duluth, Georgia 30096
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Please call ahead for appointment.

Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry
www.segwinnettcoop.org
Laura Drake, Director: Ldrake@segwinnettcoop.org
(770) 985-5229
1200 Athens Highway, Grayson, Georgia 30017

Mondays: 3:00pm – 7:00pm
Wednesdays & Fridays: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Serving residents in 30078, 30039, 30017, and 30052 area codes
Only. Please bring picture ID and current proof of address.

Norcross Cooperative Ministry
www.norcrossco-op.org
(770) 263-8268
2275 Mitchell Road, Norcross, Georgia 30071

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Tuesdays: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Saturdays: 10:00am – 12:00 (Noon)
Closed on some holidays. Please call ahead.

The Salvation Army
www.salvationarmyatlanta.org
(770) 963-8802
3445 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30044

Monday through Friday: 9:00am – 12:00pm (Noon),
1:00pm – 4:00pm

The Quinn House
www.thequinnhouse.com
(770) 962 – 0470
120 South Perry Street, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046

Tuesdays & Thursdays: 9:00am – 12:00pm (Noon)
Please call ahead to schedule appointment.

Lilburn Cooperative Ministry
Email: Kay@lilburncoop.org
www.lilburncoop.org
(770) 931-8333
5329 Five Forks Trickum Road, Lilburn, Georgia 30047

Lawrenceville Cooperative Ministry
Email: foodministry@bellsouth.net
www.lawrencevilleco-op.org
(770) 339-7887
176 Church Street, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046

Mondays: 6:00pm – 8:00pm (food only)
Wednesdays & Fridays: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Saturdays: 10:00am – 12:00pm (noon) (food only)
Must provide picture ID (Drivers License) and proof of your Lawrenceville or Dacula residence.

North Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry
www.northgwinnettcoop.org
(770) 271-9793
4395 Commerce Drive, Buford, Georgia 30518

Mondays: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Wednesday, Thursdays & Fridays: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Must qualify to receive services. Call for details.

Bread of Life Food Pantry
www.breadoflifefoodministry.org
(770) 513-1007
990 Martins Chapel Road, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043

Mondays: 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays: 1:00pm – 2:00pm

PO Box 205 ∙ Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046 ∙ 770-995-3339 ∙ Email: Yeswecangwinnett@gmail.com ∙ www.yeswecangwinnett.com

Gwinnett Survivors of Suicide Support Group

Healing from loss is one step at a time…

Gwinnett Survivors of Suicide (SOS) Support Group

Every 4th Thursday of the Month

6:30pm-8:00pm

Eastside Medical Center, South Campus, 1st Floor Classroom

2160 Fountain Drive, Snellville, GA 30078

This free group provides support for any adult who has lost a loved one
or a friend to suicide. For additional information, please contact:

770-322-4470 or email at GwinnettSOS@gmail.com

Health Insurance

How does the Affordable Care Act help people with mental health issues?

The Affordable Care Act provides one of the largest expansions of mental health and substance use disorder coverage in a generation, by requiring that most individual and small employer health insurance plans, including all plans offered through the Health Insurance Marketplace cover mental health and substance use disorder services. Also required are rehabilitative and habilitative services that can help support people with behavioral health challenges. These new protections build on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) provisions to expand mental health and substance use disorder benefits and federal parity protections to an estimated 62 million Americans.

Because of the law, most health plans must now cover preventive services, like depression screening for adults and behavioral assessments for children, at no additional cost. And, as of 2014, most plans cannot deny you coverage or charge you more due to pre-existing health conditions, including mental illnesses.

Does the Affordable Care Act require insurance plans to cover mental health benefits?

As of 2014, most individual and small group health insurance plans, including plans sold on the Marketplace are required to cover mental health and substance use disorder services. Medicaid Alternative Benefit Plans also must cover mental health and substance use disorder services. These plans must have coverage of essential health benefits, which include 10 categories of benefits as defined under the health care law. One of those categories is mental health and substance use disorder services. Another is rehabilitative and habilitative services. Additionally, these plans must comply with mental health and substance use parity requirements, as set forth in MHPAEA, meaning coverage for mental health and substance abuse services generally cannot be more restrictive than coverage for medical and surgical services.

How do I find out if my health insurance plan is supposed to be covering mental health or substance use disorder services in parity with medical and surgical benefits? What do I do if I think my plan is not meeting parity requirements?

In general, for those in large employer plans, if mental health or substance use disorder services are offered, they are subject to the parity protections required under MHPAEA. And, as of 2014, for most small employer and individual plans, mental health and substance use disorder services must meet MHPAEA requirements.

If you have questions about your insurance plan, we recommend you first look at your plan’s enrollment materials, or any other information you have on the plan, to see what the coverage levels are for all benefits. Because of the Affordable Care Act, health insurers are required to provide you with an easy-to-understand summary about your benefits including mental health benefits, which should make it easier to see what your coverage is. More information also may be available with your state Consumer Assistance Program (CAP).

Does Medicaid cover mental health or substance use disorder services?

All state Medicaid programs  provide some mental health services and some offer substance use disorder services to beneficiaries, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) beneficiaries receive a full service array. These services often include counseling, therapy, medication management, social work services, peer supports, and substance use disorder treatment. While states determine which of these services to cover for adults, Medicaid and CHIP requires that children enrolled in Medicaid receive a wide range of medically necessary services, including mental health services. In addition, coverage for the new Medicaid adult expansion populations is required to include essential health benefits, including mental health and substance use disorder benefits, and must meet mental health and substance abuse parity requirements under MHPAEA in the same manner as health plans. For additional information on Medicaid and mental health and substance use disorder services, visit:
>https://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-Topics/Benefits/Mental-Health-Services.html<

Does Medicare cover mental health or substance use disorder services?

Yes, Medicare covers a wide range of mental health services.

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)  covers inpatient mental health care services you get in a hospital. Part A covers your room, meals, nursing care, and other related services and supplies.

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)  helps cover mental health services that you would generally get outside of a hospital, including visits with a psychiatrist or other doctor, visits with a clinical psychologist or clinical social worker, and lab tests ordered by your doctor.

Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug )  helps cover drugs you may need to treat a mental health condition. Each Part D plan has its own list of covered drugs, known as formulary. Learn more about which plans cover various drugs .

If you get your Medicare benefits through a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) or other Medicare health plan, check your plan’s membership materials or call the plan for details about how to get your mental health benefits.

If you get your Medicare benefits through traditional Medicare (not a Medicare Advantage plan) and want more information, visit Medicare & Your Mental Health Benefits  . To see if a particular test, item or service is covered, please visit the Medicare Coverage Database.

What can I do if I think I need mental health or substance use disorder services for myself or family members?

Here are three steps you can take right now:

  1. Learn more about how you, your friends, and your family can obtain health insurance coverage provided by Medicaid or CHIP or the Health Insurance Marketplaces by visiting HealthCare.gov.
  2. Share this infographic with your friends, family, and colleagues so more people know about the mental health benefits accessible under the Affordable Care Act.
  3. Find out more about how the law is expanding coverage of mental health and substance use disorder benefits and federal parity protections:
    >https://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/2013/mental/rb_mental.cfm<

What is the Health Insurance Marketplace?

The Health Insurance Marketplace is designed to make buying health coverage easier and more affordable. The Marketplace allows individuals to compare health plans, get answers to questions, find out if they are eligible for tax credits to help pay for private insurance or health programs like the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and enroll in a health plan that meets their needs.

The Marketplace Can Help You:

  • Look for and compare private health plans.
  • Get answers to questions about your health coverage options.
  • Get reduced costs, if you’re eligible.
  • Enroll in a health plan that meets your needs.

Trauma Informed Care

Animated White Board Videos on PTSD

The National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder has just released animated whiteboard videos on PTSD.
Please access the links to learn more about evidenced-based treatments, prolonged exposure treatment, and cognitive processing therapy for PTSD.

What is PTSD
Get an overview of PTSD basics, such as types of trauma and symptoms.

PTSD Treatment: Know Your Options
Get an overview of evidence-based treatments for PTSD, such as Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).

Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD
Learn what happens in CPT and how this treatment can help improve PTSD.

Evidence-based” Treatment: What Does It Mean?
Learn what it takes for a treatment to be considered evidence-based.

Prolonged Exposure for PTSD
Learn what happens in PE and how this treatment can help improve PTSD.

Sex Trafficking

Yuki Reese has completed the Trauma Focused CBT training and the TF-CBT Keystones Advanced training to become a certified provider.   Yuki is listed on the Project Intersect website so that persons seeking treatment can schedule therapeutic treatment services.

Please check out the Project Intersect website for more information.