Montgomery, Ala. – Alabama is honored to be part of the ZERO TO THREE Policy Center’s continuation of the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Financing Policy Project (IECMH-FPP) Learning Collaborative, with an award in the form of specific support for state to state collaboration on policy and financing of infant and early childhood mental health.
ZERO TO THREE launched the IECMH-FPP in 2016 with support from the Irving Harris Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Alliance for Early Success, and University of Minnesota. The purpose is to support states’ advancement of IECMH assessment, diagnosis, and treatment policies that will contribute to the healthy development of young children. In 2018, the state of Alabama was selected along with eight states and the District of Columbia to participate in the ZERO TO THREE IECMH-FPP 2nd Cohort, making a total of 19 participating states plus D.C.
“Alabama being chosen in 2018 to participate in the ZERO TO THREE Financing Policy Project is a reason for the recent successes in building the much-needed infant and early childhood mental health services in Alabama. Because of this project we’ve made lasting relationships with other state IECMH leaders and the ZERO TO THREE Policy Center staff and strengthened our collaborative partnerships within Alabama as well. We are excited that ZERO TO THREE has offered us this opportunity to continue through this Collaborative Learning Project and have gladly recommitted to the work,” said Jane Duer, Director, Infant and Early Childhood Special Programs, Alabama Department of Mental Health.
Staff at the Alabama Department of Mental Health, Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, Alabama Partnership for Children and Alabama Medicaid engaged in comprehensive training and technical assistance, creating an action plan for success. The state partners have drafted and edited policies that benefit Alabama families and young children, creating a more comprehensive and accessible system for infant and early childhood mental health care.
Because of the success of sharing information and strategies to finance assessment, diagnosis and treatment within Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health programs, ZERO TO THREE will again offer assistance for partnership with states included in the project, with Alabama as part of this important alliance.
Duer continued, “Over the last five years, Alabama’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health System of Care has gone from being non-existent to seeing very successful growth. Many factors contributed to this, beginning with funding and support from Project LAUNCH, a 5-year SAMHSA grant awarded to ADMH in 2014. Thanks to ADMH Commissioner Beshear and her administrative staff’s support to sustain and expand the IECMH services established through Project LAUNCH, and to the Alabama Legislature and Governor Kay Ivey for seeing value in these services, we have state funding for FY20 to support the expansion of Alabama’s IECMH System of Care.”
Alabama also thanks the ZERO TO THREE Policy Center. The support and access to collaboration with other states will facilitate our ongoing capacity of building Alabama’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health system of care.
November 22, 2019
The Alabama Medicaid Agency is seeking public comment on its proposal to amend the Alabama Home and Community-Based Living at Home Waiver for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (LAH Waiver).
The waiver supports Alabama citizens who have a diagnosis of Intellectual Disabilities and who would otherwise require the level of care offered in an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) institution to remain in the community. The waiver provides services such as day services and in-home supports.
A copy of the proposed changes can be found on the Alabama Medicaid Agency website. Click here to view waiver documents
The comment period is open until December 23, 2019. Written comments regarding the proposed waiver amendment are welcome and should be mailed to Samantha McLeod, Associate Director via mail to: Alabama Medicaid Agency, Long Term Care Division, P.O. Box 5624, Montgomery, Alabama 36103-5624 or via e-mail to samantha.mcleod@medicaid.alabama.gov. Comments will be available for public review at http://www.medicaid.alabama.gov/ under the tab LTC/Waivers.
Montgomery, Ala. – Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. However, mental illness affects everyone directly or indirectly through family, friends or coworkers. That is why each year, during the first week of October, participants across the country raise awareness of mental illness through Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW).
The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) believes that mental health conditions are important to discuss year-round but highlighting them during Mental Illness Awareness Week provides a dedicated time for mental health advocates across the country to come together. Mental health is just as important as physical health and deserves care and attention. During the week, ADMH will be sharing important information to help decrease stigma and share resources for those in need. Visit our social media pages (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) for daily facts and information on mental health awareness.
- 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness each year
- 1 in 25 adults experience serious mental illness each year
- 1 in 6 youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34
On October 10, during Mental Health Illness Week, we celebrate World Mental Health Day. This year, the focus is on suicide prevention. ADMH and partners ask that you take “40 Seconds of Action” to help us improve awareness of the significance of suicide as a global health problem, improve knowledge of what can be done to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and let people who are struggling know that they are not alone. This is an opportunity to show you care.
Learn more about World Mental Health Day here. The Alabama Suicide Prevention Resource Center can assist with more information and resources on the scope of the problem, warning signs and the impact of suicide to families and our nation.
About Us: The Alabama Department of Mental Health serves more than 200,000 Alabama citizens with mental illnesses, intellectual disabilities, and substance use disorders. The department strives to Serve, Empower, and offer support to create awareness while promoting the health and well-being of Alabamians. Visit www.mh.alabama.gov for more information.
Montgomery, Ala. – Each September, tens of thousands of prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and facilities around the country celebrate Recovery Month. They speak about the gains made by those in recovery and share their success stories with their neighbors, friends, and colleagues. In doing so, everyone helps to increase awareness and furthers a greater understanding about mental illness and substance use disorder.
The Alabama Department of Mental Health and its Division of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services encourages all community providers and advocacy groups to coordinate rallies, runs, open houses and many other events throughout the month. The 2019 Recovery Month theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We Are Stronger,” emphasizes the need to share resources and build networks across the country to support recovery.
The months reminds us that mental illness and substance use disorder affects us all, and that we are all part of the solution. The observance will highlight inspiring stories to help thousands of people from all walks of life find the path to hope, health, and personal growth.
Commissioner Lynn Beshear, ADMH, said, “Stigma surrounding mental illness and substance use disorders can often prevent a person or their loved ones from seeking help or even talking about it. Mental illness and substance use disorders affect people of all ethnicities, ages, genders, geographic regions, and socioeconomic levels. There are very few families untouched by these issues.”
The Alabama Department of Mental Health celebrates the event to increase awareness and understanding of mental illness and substance use disorders and promote the message that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people do recover. Low to no cost treatment is available in our state and recovery is possible. ADMH’s Division of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, in partnership with several community providers and advocacy groups, coordinates rallies and many other events throughout the month.
For more information on National Recovery Month, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Recovery Month website at http://www.recoverymonth.gov.
Events and promotional information related to Recovery Month can be found during September on ADMH’s social media pages, Facebook and Twitter.
About Us: The Alabama Department of Mental Health serves more than 200,000 Alabama citizens with mental illnesses, intellectual disabilities, and substance use disorders. The department strives to Serve, Empower, and offer support to create awareness while promoting the health and well-being of Alabamians. Visit www.mh.alabama.gov for more information.
Montgomery, Ala. – The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) is expanding Stepping Up Alabama, which establishes effective partnerships with law enforcement, local governmental entities, elected officials, mental health and healthcare providers, social service providers, courts and other partners, to meet the goal of decreasing the number of persons with mental illness and substance abuse in jails and hospitals.
At this time, six community mental health centers are facilitating the program with stories of success already being seen across the state. Now the program is expanding, with the addition of five more mental health centers, as the new awardees of an ADMH grant. Currently fifteen counties in Alabama have passed the Stepping Up resolution, along with 498 counties in the nation, to work with local law enforcement, mental health providers and advocates.
The awardees for fiscal year 2020 are:
- AltaPointe Health
- East Alabama Mental Health Center
- Indian Rivers Mental Health Center
- Mental Health Center of North Alabama Inc.
- West Alabama Mental Health Center
“The ability to identify the particular set of needs of an individual, then connect that person with the appropriate resource, is a crucial tactic in our mission to decrease the number of people in jails and hospitals in Alabama,” said Commissioner Lynn Beshear, ADMH.
Beshear continued, “A case manager at a local mental health center provides that resource and connection, and creates a link between the mental health center and other vital partners in the community.” To receive the grant, ADMH requested community mental health centers provide a plan for case management services and establish a sustainable process and plan to reduce the numbers of people with mental illness and substance abuse disorders in local jails and emergency rooms in their communities. The grant amount of $50,000 will assist the community mental health centers in fulfilling the requirements and expanding partnerships and resources to realize the mission and goals of the Stepping Up Initiative.
Commissioner Beshear said, “Success stories are being told all over the state, associated with the work that is performed by dedicated Stepping Up partners. Identifying those in need, finding the right levels of care, and helping to secure housing and employment – these are tasks that our mental health centers are growing with grant funds and with the expansion of community partnerships.”
If continued progress is made and an investment by all partners is sustained, communities can benefit from:
- Increased treatment for individuals living with mental illness
- More efficient use of public funds
- Less strain on jails and law enforcement
- Increased peace of mind for families and the community
- Healthier community members
- Greater prosperity for the entire community
About Us: The Alabama Department of Mental Health serves more than 200,000 Alabama citizens with mental illnesses, intellectual disabilities, and substance use disorders. The department strives to Serve, Empower, and offer support to create awareness while promoting the health and well-being of Alabamians. Visit www.mh.alabama.gov for more information.
WHAT: The AL-APSE Conference an annual event, intended to disseminate a variety of information to professionals working in the disability arena, as well as to individuals with disabilities and their families.
The conference will begin with an awards luncheon and hold sessions for participants to attend with objectives in becoming informed on support and success on employment, as well as community and independent living. Participants will receive a Continuing Education Credit if they attend the conference and sessions.
WHEN: Wednesday afternoon – Friday noon, July 10-12
WHERE: Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa, 201 Tallapoosa St., Montgomery, AL 36104
WHO: The AL-APSE, the Network on Employment, is a chapter of APSE and strives to improve and expand integrated employment opportunities, services, and outcomes for persons with disabilities through supported employment. To learn more about supported employment, please visit the Alabama Department of Mental Health’s page.
Press Information:
- Contacts: Malissa Valdes-Hubert 334-202-1910; Byron White, 334-353-7713
- Press should contact ADMH staff for interviews.
The deadline to submit a proposal is June 28, 2019
Montgomery Ala. – The Stepping Up Initiative is a national program with the goal to reduce the numbers of individuals in jails with mental illness. To date, 491 counties nationwide have passed resolutions on the Stepping Up Initiative. Currently fifteen counties in Alabama have passed the Stepping Up resolution to work with local law enforcement, mental health providers and advocates.
Now, Stepping Up Alabama is expanding further across our state, working together to make a difference in our communities. The program establishes effective partnerships with law enforcement, local governmental entities, elected officials, mental health and healthcare providers, social service providers, courts and any others needed to meet the goal. At this time, six community mental health centers are facilitating the program with success across the state.
“The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) is proud to offer a second grant opportunity to community mental health centers, so they may serve individuals in an innovative yet essential approach. Delivering coordinated services to decrease the number of persons with mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders in jails or emergency rooms is a vital need in every county in our state. This grant opportunity can assist local mental health centers to fill in the gap and become a connection for those in need,” said Commissioner Lynn Beshear.
Through a Request for Proposal available now on the department website, the ADMH is offering the grant to community mental health centers. The requirements and deadlines for the grant proposal can be found here.
Montgomery Ala. – The Alabama Department of Mental Health, Office of Peer Programs partners with the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network and the Southeast Mental Health TTC to bring a vital training to the central Alabama area on May 29.
The Peer Voice training instructs mental health peers and peer specialists on ways to gather data from large and small community groups, building support for mental health recovery. Participants in the training will gain an understanding of how individuals, communities and organizations can work collaboratively to produce successful mental health recovery outcomes.
In the field of mental health, a peer refers to someone who shares the experience of living with a psychiatric disorder and/or substance use disorder. Peer support is the process of giving and receiving encouragement and assistance to achieve long-term recovery. Peer specialists offer emotional support, share knowledge, facilitate individuals in developing knowledge that promotes recovery, provide practical assistance, and connect people with resources, opportunities, communities of support, and other people.
After completing the Peer Voice training, participants will be able to discuss the importance of the peer voice in developing and delivering services in the community; describe benefits of collaboration with allied organizations; discuss the role of the peer in providing diverse perspectives; identify strategies for including the peer voice in adapting data collection tools; and create a plan to develop a system of information gathering for peer populations.
The training will be held at the Hamilton Center at Chilton Shelby Mental Health Center, a provider and partner of the Alabama Department of Mental health. A listening session will be held from 9:30a.m.-11:30a.m., followed by the training from 1:00p.m.- 4:00p.m.
About Us: The Alabama Department of Mental Health serves more than 200,000 Alabama citizens with mental illnesses, intellectual disabilities, and substance use disorders. The department strives to Serve, Empower, and offer support to create awareness while promoting the health and well-being of Alabamians. Visit www.mh.alabama.gov for more information.