ATLANTA – State Representative Katie Dempsey (R-Rome) was recently named the 2017 Legislator of the Year by the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (GAAAP). Rep. Dempsey was honored during GAAAP’s annual meeting on Friday, November 3, 2017, in Atlanta.

“I’m honored to be recognized by Georgia’s American Academy of Pediatrics chapter for my work on behalf of our state’s children,” said Rep. Dempsey. “Children and adolescents with social-emotional, intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as their families, face tremendous challenges, and as a state representative, I will continue to serve as a voice for these individuals. It is my hope that Georgia’s children in need of mental health services will have every opportunity to succeed as healthy productive adults. I look forward to continuing this important work in the upcoming legislative session.”

Rep. Dempsey was recognized for her leadership in the Georgia House of Representatives on children’s mental health issues. During the last three legislative sessions, Rep. Dempsey sponsored legislation to create study committees on children’s mental health, and her work resulted in the establishment of the Commission on Children’s Mental Health by Gov. Nathan Deal earlier this year. This commission is the first of its kind and is charged with evaluating Georgia’s mental health services for children and studying ways to improve such services.

Through her work as the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Resources, Rep. Dempsey plays a key role in determining the budgets of the Department of Human Service, Division of Family and Children Services and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Because of her knowledge in such areas, Gov. Deal appointed Rep. Dempsey to the Georgia Children’s Cabinet, which is comprised of state leaders in health, safety and education child policy.

GAAAP is a non-profit organization that works to improve infant, child and adolescent health and welfare of in Georgia.

For more information on GAAAP, please click here.

*Editor’s note: A photo of Rep. Dempsey at the GAAAP annual meeting has been attached to this press release for your convenience.

 Representative Katie Dempsey represents the citizens of District 13, which includes portions of Floyd County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2006, and currently serves as the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Resources. She also serves on the Economic Development & Tourism, Energy, Utilities, & Telecommunications, Health & Human Services, Higher Education, Rules, and Transportation committees.

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