As established in Act 2024-358, the Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee is charged by the Governor and Legislature to develop a comprehensive plan that addresses the unique behavioral health needs of Alabama veterans. To inform the plan, leverage resources, and identify gaps in care, the Committee must conduct a review of current veterans’ mental health, substance use, recovery, and other support services in Alabama.

To assist the Committee in reviewing all of the current programs and resources available in the state, please consider responding to this Request For Information (RFI).

Specifically, we are looking for programs and services that address one or more of the Committee’s goals:

  • Improve lethal means safety
  • Enhance crisis care and care transitions
  • Increase access to and delivery of effective care
  • Address upstream risk and protective factors

Please review the RFI in its entirety, and submit it to veterans@mh.alabama.gov by November 30, 2024. Questions about the RFI can be submitted to the same address from now until November 15, 2024.

On behalf of the Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee, thank you for the services you provide every day to Alabama veterans.

About the Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee

The Alabama Department of Mental Health is pleased to chair the Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee, created by Act 2024-358.  The purpose of the committee is to maximize new and existing opportunities for veterans’ access to behavioral health care – as defined as the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and behavioral health crises – no matter where they need it, when they need it, or whether they are enrolled in VA care.

Per Act 2024-358, the Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee is tasked with the following:

  • June 1, 2024: The Act goes into effect.
  • September 1, 2024: The Committee shall have its first meeting by this date.
  • January 1, 2025: The Committee shall complete a full review of the following:
    • The current state of Alabama veterans’ mental health and rates of substance use;
    • Current mental health, substance use, recovery, and other support services in Alabama;
    • Needs assessments previously conducted for the purpose of identifying gaps in services and supports.  The review of needs assessments shall include quantitative and qualitative feedback of post-9/11 veterans in Alabama;
    • The need for additional services and coordination of existing services.
  • April 1, 2025: The Committee shall develop a Comprehensive Plan and submit it to the House and Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committees by this date.
  • June 30, 2025: ADMH shall submit the Comprehensive Plan to the Governor by this date.
  • August 31, 2025: The Governor shall act on the Comprehensive Plan no later than this date. Upon the Governor’s approval, ADMH will implement the Comprehensive Plan.

Act 2024-358 also creates the opportunity for ADMH to establish pilot programs with newly appropriated dollars.  The pilot programs must be based on the findings of the Committee’s Comprehensive Plan.  Thus, the Committee is publishing a Request for Information (RFI) and encourages organizations delivering veteran-specific programs to submit responses.  More information will be posted on November 8, 2024.