The Alabama Department of Mental Health has expanded the School-Based Mental Health Services Program since its inception in 2010. The goal of the School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) collaboration between the Alabama Department of Mental Health and its providers and the Alabama State Department of Education and Alabama’s local education agencies is to ensure that children and adolescents, both general and special education, enrolled in local school systems have access to high-quality mental health prevention, early intervention and treatment services.
The aim is to achieve greater integration of mental health services between mental health centers and public schools and to increase the utilization of evidence-based practices. The integration of these services will foster continuity of care and ensure sustained gains in academic and developmental domains for children, youth, and their families.
Fifteen mental health centers received additional funds to expand SBMH services with $750,000 in FY 22. We currently have 93 school systems and 18 community mental health centers participating in the School-Based Mental Health Collaboration Program.
LaToya Patterson, School-Based Mental Health Coordinator
334-353-7275
