Words and Image by Jenny Lynn Davis
In a step toward addressing mental health and substance use crises in Walker County, the Walker County Commission has approved the use of local opioid settlement funds to support the creation of a Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team through Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center (NWAMHC). The decision, approved during the Commission’s regular meeting on Tuesday, July 21, follows more than a year of collaborative planning between the Commission, NWAMHC leadership, and state officials.
The initiative will draw on funds from Alabama’s share of national opioid litigation settlements designated to help communities prevent and recover from the ongoing opioid crisis. According to Commission Chairman Steve Miller, Walker County currently holds approximately $220,000 in its opioid settlement fund, with additional funds expected in future years. Miller also said that the Commission will commit additional support from available certificate of deposit funds to meet the financial match required for the program’s launch.
April Knight, Executive Director of NWAMHC, emphasized that the new mobile crisis team is designed to fill a critical gap in local mental health services.
“We’ve been working with the Walker County Commission for a while now, identifying where the greatest needs are,” Knight said. “One major gap is that we don’t currently have a mobile crisis team in this county. These teams are a form of early intervention. When someone is in the middle of a mental health or substance use crisis, the team can respond in the moment and deescalate the situation right where the person is.”
The team would consist of therapists, peer support specialists, and case managers. Together, they would serve individuals in their homes or in the community, offering emotional support, connecting them to resources, and determining if hospitalization or additional treatment is needed. According to Knight, existing NWAMHC mobile crisis teams in nearby counties served over 500 individuals last year alone, potentially preventing hundreds of emergency room visits, arrests, or more severe outcomes.
The annual operating cost of a mobile crisis team is estimated at $400,000. Senator Matt Woods (R-Jasper) helped secure a cost-sharing agreement with the state: Walker County will provide $200,000 per year for two years, and the Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) will cover the remaining costs during that period. Beginning in the third year, the state has agreed to fully fund the program indefinitely.
“This is a resource that a lot of counties have and that every county would probably like to have,” said Woods. “A $400,000 investment upfront can yield millions of dollars in mental health services going forward.”
Commissioners spoke with unanimous support for the project, noting the careful planning and community input behind the decision.
District 2 Commissioner Jeff Burrough stated that approximately 20 local stakeholders were consulted during the early phases of the decision-making process. “The crisis team and beds for people seeking mental health treatment were the two most important issues brought up,” he said. “It just makes sense to partner with Northwest Alabama Mental Health to create something lasting for our county.”
District 3 Commissioner Jim Borden added, “We think long and hard on the decisions made with the opioid settlement money. For over a year, we’ve been in discussions about it, and we wanted long-term benefits of the monies we received. It takes time to get the ball rolling, but we want to be good stewards of the money and get the most out of every dollar to benefit the most people in the county.”
Chairman Miller praised both Knight and Woods for their roles in making the project a reality. “We’ve seen a lot of mental health issues in Walker County. Hopefully this early intervention measure will reach people before they’re in a worse situation,” he said.
To learn more about Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center, visit nwamhc.com or follow Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center on Facebook.
Click here to learn more about the state of Alabama’s opioid settlements. WL
