Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Image by Al Blanton
The Walker County Commission has approved $150,000 per year for two years to support HARTT Counseling and Wellness, funding the addition of two new therapists to the nonprofit’s growing staff. The allocation comes from Alabama’s share of national opioid settlement dollars, earmarked to help communities prevent and recover from the ongoing opioid crisis.
HARTT Executive Director Anthony Sellers said the support will help the nonprofit reach more people, especially local youth.
“We are rapidly expanding and meeting more needs than we ever dreamed up to start with,” said Sellers. “This funding opens the door for us to make our reach further. We work with juveniles in our county, and they need dedicated therapists so that they’re not only getting juvenile advocate services but also therapy to help them have a better future.”
Program Director Tina Aaron added that HARTT focuses on filling gaps in care across the county.
“Walker County is blessed with a lot of wonderful nonprofits and organizations, yet even with all of us doing these things, there are still gaps,” she said. “We see HARTT as belonging to Walker County. This is your community nonprofit, and we want to serve you – bring the gaps to us, and let’s figure out how to fill those needs together. This funding helps us respond to needs as they arise, whether through counseling, support groups, or other outreach.”
Because the funding comes from opioid settlement money, HARTT leaders emphasized their role in prevention and recovery. Aaron noted that many of the children they serve are already affected by addiction in their families.
“The prevention piece is working with at-risk youth to change that trajectory,” she said.
Still, HARTT doesn’t stop at prevention. Their work also supports those in recovery, aiming to heal the deeper causes of addiction.
“There’s a reason someone falls into addiction,” Aaron said. “If that root has gone unnamed and untreated, relapse is more likely. It’s not just about stopping substance use; it’s about addressing the underlying issues.” Sellers agreed, adding, “We as a society spend a lot of time hacking off the limbs when we don’t ever look at the root. That’s what we really try to focus on.”
One of the largest obstacles facing those in need of mental health care is cost. Many in the community are uninsured or underinsured, leaving them unable to cover even a small co-pay.
“That’s our biggest barrier,” Aaron noted. “Over half of our services are completely free right now, but that still requires grant-funded therapists.”
The new county funding will help ease that burden, allowing more residents to access services without financial roadblocks.
For those hesitant to reach out, HARTT works to create an environment that feels warm and approachable. From free tours of their office and short introductory consultations with staff, to creative methods like art therapy and play therapy, the team meets clients where they are. Their office also includes a “Hope Library,” filled with free books and resources, all designed to help ease the stigma around seeking help.
Though only three years old, HARTT is already exceeding its own five-year goals. Sellers described their vision simply: “We want to make our reach as far as we can into the depths of where people are forgotten, and make sure everyone gets the quality help they deserve.”
Future plans include a walk-in clinic, additional support groups, and expanded specialty services such as ADHD and autism therapy. But the guiding principle, Aaron stressed, is not growth for growth’s sake, it’s quality.
“We don’t want to just throw something out there when we’re not ready to provide that service with the highest quality,” she said.
Beyond financial support, Aaron and Sellers said the community can help by spreading the word, donating items like “Warmies” (lavender-scented stuffed animals used in therapy with children), and keeping the staff in their prayers.
“It’s a heavy load for these counselors every day,” Aaron said. “We just want to continue to do this work with compassion and quality without our people burning out.”
Both Sellers and Aaron expressed gratitude for the Commission’s decision to allocate the funding.
“We view it as confidence in us from the community and a gift that is allowing us to do more work,” Sellers said. “Because of this trust in us and this gift, now we don’t have to figure out how to make it happen. The community is making it happen.” WL
To learn more about HARTT Counseling and Wellness, visit harttwalkercounty.org.
