The Office of Policy and Planning manages and performs administrative Operations associated with the planning, coordination, and implementation of ADMH initiatives and serves as a liaison with providers, consumers, federal, state, local agencies, 310 Board Plans, and community stakeholders to include the following:

Emergency Management and Disaster Response

Emergency Management and Disaster Response promotes and supports collaborative initiatives, projects, and partnerships with community-based organizations, federal, state, and local agencies aimed at identifying disaster relief needs of individuals impacted by catastrophes as well as assisting with providing services, supports, training, and linkage to additional community resources. Individuals affected by disasters and are experiencing emotional distress, anxiety, or crisis are encouraged to seek immediate help with a trained crisis counselor via the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 (call or text), a 24/7, 365 days a year.

Policy and Planning Review

The Office of Policy and Planning leads the development, monitoring, and revision of all ADMH Central Office policies. An internal Policy Review Committee representing members from each ADMH Division convenes quarterly to discuss, review, adopt, or rescind current and historical policies.

The Office of Policy and Planning conducts review of all 310 Board Strategic Plans submitted by 310 Boards. Each 310 Board consists of key components representing a shared focus aligning with ADMH’s current Strategic Plan including but not limited to a description of services/populations served, agency goals/objectives, needs assessment methodology, and plan monitoring/evaluation conducted over a two-to-three-year planning cycle. Upon review by staff, each plan is posted to the ADMH website.

Mental Health First Aid

The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training program for ADMH is managed and conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illnesses Alabama (NAMI). The program enables participants to identify common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance abuse challenges, provides skills on how to interact with those experiencing a crisis, and customizes the training sessions for individuals providing mental health or substance abuse services and supports for adults, youth, teens, seniors, veterans, Public Safety, Fire/EMS, workplace, rural communities, and higher education. For more information, please visit NAMI Alabama.

Terrorism & Disaster Coalition for Child and Family Resilience Coalition

The Terrorism and Disaster Coalition for Child and Family Resilience (TDC4) Gulf Coast Regional Coalition was created when the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center received funding from SAMHSA to establish a TDC4 project, which is a center within the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. The Gulf Coast Regional Coalition in partnership with other Coalitions nationwide work collaboratively to develop materials and provide training on interventions to support the behavioral health, wellbeing and resilience of children, their families, and communities in the face of terrorism and disaster.

Certification Administration

The Office of Policy and Planning provides oversight for the Office of Certification Administration which serves to process, track, and manage all certification applications for ADMH community providers applying for certified services governed by the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DD), the Community Waiver Program (CWP), and the Division of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (MHSA).