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ADMH joins SAMHSA policy academy on substance use; announces outreach and prevention events
Summary
Associate Commissioner Nicole Walden said ADMH will participate in SAMHSA’s 12-month Substance Use/Alcohol Policy Academy and partner with public-health and nonprofit groups to expand prevention efforts for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Public information staff listed upcoming outreach days and NARCAN distribution plans.
Associate Commissioner Nicole Walden told the Alabama Department of Mental Health Board of Trustees on Aug. 15 that ADMH's Division of Mental Illness & Substance Use will join SAMHSA's 12-month Substance Use/Alcohol Policy Academy.
Walden said the division will partner with the Alabama Department of Public Health, the March of Dimes, VitAL (UA), the Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative, the Nurse Family Partnership and peer doulas to expand prevention efforts, educate about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and reduce stigma and prevalence. "Our goals are ... to increase prevention efforts and educate about fetal alcohol syndrome and the stigma that goes along with it," she said.
Public Information Director Malissa Valdes told trustees about planned outreach surrounding Overdose Awareness Day (Sept. 29), Suicide Prevention Month and Recovery Month in September, and Direct Support Professional Recognition Week (Sept. 7–13). Valdes said ADMH will work with the Alabama Association of Recovery Residents to distribute NARCAN on college campuses and in public spaces and with ROSS on a 'Boots on the Ground' outreach effort. She also noted that ADMH license-plate sales have been increasing, a revenue-adjacent indicator for outreach programs.
The board received the reports for information; no votes or resource commitments were made during the meeting.
