Alabama Department of Mental Health

What Alabama Department of Mental Health does

The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) is a state government agency headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, established in 1965 to administer publicly funded mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorder services across the state's 67 counties. The agency serves more than 155,000 Alabamians annually through three operating divisions — Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, Developmental Disabilities, and Administration — and operates a statewide delivery network comprising six crisis centers, mobile crisis teams, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the Connect Alabama mobile app, the 96-bed Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Psychiatry Center, and contracted community mental health centers that are progressively transitioning to the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model.

The underlying technology stack centers on three proprietary state information systems — ADIDIS for intellectual/developmental disabilities, ACSIS for mental health, and ASAIS for substance use — supplemented by the PASSR nursing home screening system, the Therap MH/SA platform, and public-facing report cards that track 988, crisis center, and mobile crisis performance. Specialized programs include the Nurse Delegation Program, Individual Placement and Support (IPS) supported employment, Community Waiver services, forensic mental health, deaf services, and autism services.

ADMH does not generate commercial revenue; funding flows from State of Alabama appropriations and federal grants administered through SAMHSA (Mental Health Block Grant, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, PATH, State Opioid Response) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (LA CARRETERA). The agency is governed by a Commissioner appointed by the state, currently Kimberly Boswell, and operates with a staff of 1,001–5,000 across the headquarters and field operations.

Name

Alabama Department of Mental Health

Legal name

Alabama Department of Mental Health

Website

https://mh.alabama.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Alabama Department of Mental Health is a state government agency that serves more than 155,000 Alabamians annually with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders through a statewide network of crisis centers, mobile crisis teams, the 988 Lifeline, contracted community providers, and specialized facilities including a 96-bed geriatric psychiatry center, funded by state appropriations and federal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Mental Health Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330), Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists (621112), Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals (622210), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAJAK

Behavioral Health & Substance Use Public Health Programs

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Public Health Administration & Regulation

SECONDARYHLAFACAA

Outpatient Mental Health Clinics & Counseling Centers

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment

SECONDARYHLAFACAH

Crisis Stabilization Units & Psychiatric Emergency Services

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment

SECONDARYHLAEAHAK

Behavioral Health Crisis Services Management (988/Hotlines/Mobile Crisis Coordination)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Health Insurance & Managed Care/Managed Behavioral Health (MBHO)

SECONDARYHLAFABAC

Outpatient Mental Health & Counseling Clinics

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Ambulatory & Outpatient Care Centers

Keywords

• Public mental health services
• Substance use disorder treatment
• Developmental disability services
• Crisis intervention services
• Behavioral health programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Montgomery

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Mental Health Block Grant: Federal block grant funding from SAMHSA for mental health services. ADMH is the Single State Agency responsible for receipt and expenditure of these funds.
2. Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG): Major federal funding source for substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery support services provided by agencies under contract with ADMH, administered through SAMHSA.
3. Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) Grant: Federal grant funding for assistance in transition from homelessness for individuals with mental illness.
4. State Opioid Response (SOR) Grants: SAMHSA-funded grants including SOR4 for opioid response and MAT-PDOA for medication-assisted treatment in high-need counties (Jefferson, Walker).
5. Alabama Rural Counties Drug Court Treatment Expansion Project: SAMHSA-funded grant expanding treatment services for non-violent offenders with substance use disorders in five rural Alabama counties.
6. Alabama COVID-19 Responder Uliendre (ACRU): Statewide SAMHSA-funded grant addressing mental health and substance abuse needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
7. Project FREEDOM: First Responder Expansion of Education and Distribution of Overdose Medication - SAMHSA-funded grant for Narcan training in rural Alabama counties.
8. LA CARRETERA Grant: Bureau of Justice Assistance funded grant for substance abuse treatment diversion programs in criminal justice populations.
9. AL-SBIRT Grant: Grant partnership with VitAL at University of Alabama for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment in primary care settings.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Alabama Department of Mental Health is a state government agency that plans, funds, regulates, and coordinates a comprehensive statewide system of mental health, developmental disability, and substance use disorder services. It delivers crisis intervention, treatment, prevention, and recovery support services through a network of contracted community mental health centers, six designated Crisis Centers, mobile crisis teams, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and specialty programs (autism, deaf services, forensic, children/adolescent, geriatric), serving more than 155,000 Alabamians annually.

Product overview

The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) operates a comprehensive government mental health services platform rather than a single product. The department serves over 155,000 Alabama citizens annually through multiple integrated service divisions: Mental Health & Substance Use Services, Developmental Disabilities Services, and Crisis Services. Core digital offerings include the Connect Alabama App for service location, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, statewide Crisis Centers, and Mobile Crisis Teams. Supporting infrastructure includes information systems (ADIDIS, ACSIS, ASAIS, PASSR) for service tracking and provider certification. Specialized programs include the Nurse Delegation Program for community providers, the Community Waiver Program for developmental disabilities, Individual Placement and Support (IPS) for employment services, and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. The department also publishes public performance metrics through report cards (988, Crisis Center, Mobile Crisis) and operates specialty facilities including the Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Psychiatry Center. Services span prevention, crisis intervention, treatment, and recovery support across the lifespan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Statewide 24/7 suicide and crisis hotline providing immediate crisis support via call, chat, or text, connecting individuals in Alabama to mental health professionals.
• Crisis Centers Designated walk-in facilities across Alabama where individuals in mental health or substance abuse crisis can receive stabilization, evaluation, and psychiatric services.
• Connect Alabama App Mobile application serving as a behavioral health services and treatment finder to help Alabama users locate mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services statewide.
• Mobile Crisis Teams Regional mobile teams dispatched across Alabama to provide on-site crisis intervention, de-escalation, and connection to ongoing services for individuals experiencing mental health emergencies.
• Peer Support & Drop-In Centers Community-based centers offering peer-led support services and drop-in resources for individuals with mental health and substance use needs across Alabama.
• Autism Services Comprehensive services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, including assessment, treatment, and family support delivered through ADMH-contracted providers.
• Developmental Disabilities Services Statewide services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including community waiver programs, supported employment, support coordination, and self-advocacy services.
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services Treatment and recovery services for individuals with substance use disorders, including medications for addiction treatment (MAT), prevention programs, and recovery support delivered through contracted providers.
• Mental Illness Community Programs Community-based mental health programs and services for adults with serious mental illness, delivered through ADMH's network of community mental health centers.
• Children and Adolescent Services Mental health services designed for children, adolescents, and their families, including early childhood intervention programs, delivered through the Office of Child and Family Services.
• Deaf Services Specialized mental health services and communication support for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, including access to qualified interpreters.
• Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC)
• Forensic Mental Health Services Mental health services for individuals involved with the criminal justice system, including forensic evaluations and outpatient services delivered under ADMH oversight.
• Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Psychiatry Center
• Community Waiver Program Home and community-based services waiver program providing supports for individuals with developmental disabilities to live in community settings rather than institutional care.
• Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Evidence-based supported employment program helping individuals with serious mental illness obtain and maintain competitive employment in the community.
• Recovery Housing Initiative Housing program for individuals with substance use disorders providing recovery residences and emergency housing funds to support sustained recovery.

Quantifiable outcome

• 988 Lifeline has received over 37,700 contacts from Alabamians since July 2022
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NAMI AlabamacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMental health advocacy organization partnering with ADMH for Strike Out Stigma Night community event, providing mental health resources and information to attendees.
• Council on Substance Abuse (COSA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSubstance abuse prevention organization participating in Strike Out Stigma Night to provide resources and connect individuals to substance use services.
• Carastar HealthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity health provider participating in Strike Out Stigma Night providing mental health and substance abuse resources to the community.
• Alabama Department of Veterans AffairscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerState agency partnering with ADMH for veteran mental health resources and services, including suicide prevention efforts for veterans.
• Wings Across AlabamacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization providing 24/7 Warmline with peer support specialists available to offer assistance and mental health resources. Partner in mental health awareness events.
• Recovery Organization of Support Specialists (ROSS)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides mobile services including assessments, transportation to/from treatment, and recovery support services under the LA CARRETERA grant for individuals involved with the criminal justice system in Montgomery, Etowah, Jefferson, and Walker counties.
• Oxford HouseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecovery housing organization participating in community events to support individuals in recovery from substance use disorders.
• Mental Health America - MontgomeryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chapter of national mental health organization partnering for community mental health awareness and resources.
• New Season Montgomery Metro Treatment CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedication-assisted treatment provider participating in community events to connect individuals to opioid addiction treatment services.
• Montgomery BiscuitscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMinor league baseball team hosting annual Strike Out Stigma Night at DABOS Park, providing a welcoming venue for mental health education and community connection.
• VitAL - University of Alabama School of Social WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for AL-SBIRT grant implementing Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment in primary care clinics and hospitals statewide.
• JBS Mental Health AuthoritycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMental health authority operating Craig Crisis Care Center in Birmingham, serving 20 counties across Central Alabama. Opened in January 2023 under Governor Ivey's initiative.
• Governor Kay IveycoreOthersGovernor of Alabama who joined ADMH for crisis center ribbon cuttings and initiatives, demonstrating executive support for mental health services expansion.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: A neighboring Southeastern state mental health and substance abuse agency with overlapping service populations, crisis infrastructure, and federal grant dependencies. Direct peer in scope and operational structure.
• Mississippi Department of Mental Health: Alabama's immediate neighbor and a tightly comparable state mental health agency serving a similar population profile, with crisis services, developmental disability programs, and substance use treatment under a single state authority.
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services - Division of Mental Health: North Carolina's state division for mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance use services, with a structure and mission that closely mirrors ADMH's integrated agency model.
• Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD): A fellow Southeastern state agency with an almost identical name and remit—behavioral health and developmental disabilities. Operates crisis services, community providers, and inpatient facilities under comparable funding models, making it a direct peer to ADMH.

Broad incumbents

• Texas Health and Human Services Commission: Texas's state health and human services agency, which administers behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disability, and substance use programs at a scale similar to ADMH. Directly comparable as a Single State Agency for behavioral health in a large state.
• California Department of Health Care Services - Behavioral Health: California's state behavioral health authority within DHCS, operating Medi-Cal behavioral health programs and county-based mental health and substance use services. Comparable in function at a substantially larger scale.
• Florida Department of Children and Families (Behavioral Health): Florida's state agency responsible for behavioral health and substance abuse services among other human services. Comparable in function as a state-level behavioral health authority, though embedded in a broader children and families portfolio.
• New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH): A larger state mental health authority that operates psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, and crisis services. Comparable in role as a Single State Agency for mental health, though operating at much greater scale and with broader inpatient infrastructure.

Others

• National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD): The membership organization representing state mental health authorities, of which ADMH is a member. Comparable as an ecosystem participant that convenes and represents agencies like ADMH at the national level.
• SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): The federal agency that funds and provides policy direction to state behavioral health authorities like ADMH. Listed as a financial partner in the data and is the most relevant 'ecosystem' peer, though it functions as a regulator/funder rather than a peer agency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ALMentalHealth
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ALMentalHealth
• Facebookfacebook.com/ALMentalHealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alabama-department-of-mental-health
• Instagraminstagram.com/almentalhealth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alabama Department of Mental Health