Kay Ivey announces funding for two more Mental Health Crisis Centers
Gov. Kay Ivey announced the funding of two additional Mental Health Crisis Centers, further expanding the Alabama Crisis System of Care. The two new centers add to the four existing centers in Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile. These centers serve individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders. The fiscal year 2023 awarded Community Mental Health Centers are Indian Rivers Behavioral Health in Tuscaloosa County and SpectraCare Health Systems in Houston County. “The state of Alabama is proud to continue doing its part to offer top-notch crisis care to people in need,” stated Ivey. “During my time as governor, I’ve placed a renewed focus on finding innovative ways to support Alabamians that find themselves battling mental health issues, and I have no doubt that these two new facilities are going change lives for the better.” The two newly awarded centers in Tuscaloosa County and Houston County will serve large populations in the regions, including veterans and young adults. Mental Health Crisis Centers are a designated place for community members, law enforcement, and first responders to take an individual who is in a mental health crisis. The centers offer both walk-in access and the capacity for first responders and law enforcement to transfer individuals to the center for crisis care for a warm hand-off to staff, short-term admission, medication management, and case management. Services also include critical crisis intervention and stabilization services, discharge planning, and connections to ongoing behavioral health care services, if needed. “We are committed to ensuring all Alabamians have someone to call, someone to respond, and if needed, someplace to go in times of crisis,” said Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell. “We are thankful for Governor Ivey’s leadership and the Legislature’s continued investment in our state’s crisis system of care, expanding access to even more individuals and their families.” The initial three Crisis Centers were funded with an $18 million appropriation in the FY2021 General Fund budget, with continued funding appropriated in the FY2022 and FY2023 General Fund budgets to support the existing Crisis Centers and add new Crisis Centers across the state.
Personnel update: Kim Boswell to serve as Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health
Gov. Kay Ivey announced Monday that Lynn Beshear will retire as Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) effective December 16, 2020. Beshear was appointed to the position in July 2017. Ivey has hired Kim Boswell as Beshear’s replacement. “When Lynn was appointed, I knew that she would approach her role always thinking of what is best for the people of Alabama,” Governor Ivey stated. “She has created a collaborative team approach within the Alabama Department of Mental Health to solve intricate problems regarding delivery of services for mental illness, substance abuse disorder, and intellectual disability. I am truly grateful for her service to our state and wish her the best in her next chapter.” Beshear stated, “It has been an honor to serve as the Commissioner of the department. I am stepping into the next chapter of my life, proud of the accomplishments of the department and am incredibly honored to have worked with such dedicated individuals who are committed to improving the lives of others. I profoundly thank Governor Ivey for her trust in me these last three years and have no doubt the department will continue to change the lives of the people of Alabama for the better.” Under Commissioner Beshear’s leadership, the ADMH launched Stepping Up Alabama, a program to reduce the number of individuals in jail with mental illness. Additionally, three mental health crisis centers were announced as crisis diversion centers, and there was the expansion of school-based mental health and infant and early childhood services during her tenure. Boswell currently works as Chief of Staff for Commissioner Beshear and has over 36 years of experience working with individuals with mental illness, substance abuse disorders, and developmental disabilities. She has been an Associate Commissioner for Administration and Director of Human Services for the Alabama Department of Mental Health. Boswell received a Bachelor of Social Work from The University of Alabama Birmingham and a Master of Social Work from Florida State University, with a specialization in planning and program evaluation. “I’m pleased to announce Kim Boswell as Commissioner for the Alabama Department of Mental Health,” Governor Ivey commented. “She has spent the entirety of her professional career devoted to helping struggling individuals, and I appreciate her willingness to serve in this new capacity. Her background as a mental health provider as well as administrator makes her uniquely qualified.”
