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Alabama Department of Mental Health board highlights improved 988 answer rates, expands crisis and veterans programs
Summary
At the Nov. 21 Board of Trustees meeting, ADMH reported sustained 988 call-answer rates above its 90% goal, credited a new crisis center partner for gains, and said five Community Mental Health Centers will become CCBHCs in 2026; the board discussed veteran-focused EMDR pilot programs and possible application to children in foster care.
At its Nov. 21 meeting, the Alabama Department of Mental Health Board of Trustees heard that the state's crisis-response system has significantly improved its 988 call-answer performance and is expanding crisis services. Associate Commissioner Nicole Walden told trustees Crisis Centers have logged more than 1,000 evaluations per month for three consecutive months and that Alabama was recognized as the most improved state for 988 answering rates.
Walden said ADMH has surpassed its internal 90% answering-rate goal since July 2025; by contrast, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s national target is 80%. She credited SpectraCare, the most recent crisis center to join the statewide network, for boosting the in-state answer rate and said calls answered in Alabama increase the chance callers receive local resources and immediate help.
Walden also reported a planned expansion of certified-community behavioral health clinic (CCBHC) capacity: five Community Mental Health Centers are slated to become CCBHCs in 2026. The additions are part of ADMH’s effort to broaden access to evidence-based outpatient services and crisis follow-up.
Chief of Staff Collier Tynes Dixon briefed the board on Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee pilot awardees, describing a diverse set of evidence-based treatments included in the pilots. One highlighted pilot provides free Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for veterans; Trustee Johnna Breland asked whether treatments that show effectiveness for veterans could be applied to children in foster care. Commissioner Kimberly G. Boswell said ADMH would explore how successful programs might be adapted for children with complex trauma.
The board did not take formal action on these program updates during the meeting; discussion focused on implementation, monitoring outcomes and identifying programs that could be adapted for other populations.
The board accepted the meeting agenda and previous minutes by unanimous consent earlier in the session. The meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m.
