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Grading the States 2009 Report Card: Alabama
In 2006, Alabama’s mental health care system received an overall grade of D. In three years, its
grade has not changed.Poverty and historic bureaucratic inertia are major reasons for the D.
Investment in the mental health system is inadequate, and implementation of programs that work
remains scarce. Hospitals are filled beyond capacity, and shortages in acute care hospital and
crisis beds have reached critical levels. Full narrative (PDF).
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Health Promotion and Measurement: F 25% of Total Grade
Basic measures, such as the number of programs delivering evidence-based practices,
emergency room wait-times, and the quantity of psychiatric beds by setting.
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Financing & Core Treatment/Recovery Services: C 45% of Total Grade
A variety of financing measures, such as whether Medicaid reimburses providers for all, or part of evidence-based practices; and more.
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Consumer & Family Empowerment: D 15% of Total Grade
Includes measures such as consumer and family access to essential information from the
state, promotion of consumer-run programs, and family and peer education and support.
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Community Integration and Social Inclusion: F 15% of Total Grade
Includes activities that require collaboration among state mental health agencies and other state agencies and systems.
Innovations
- Reduction in use of restraints and seclusion in state hospitals
- Center of Excellence to develop statewide evidence-based practices
- Psychiatric residencies at state medical schools
Urgent Needs
- Address acute and crisis care shortages
- Integrated dual diagnosis treatment and supported employment
- Reduce workforce shortage of mental health professionals
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"One of the most important things I receive is preventative care ... that my support team catches a potential problem before it turns into a crisis."
"There is a lack of coordinated care and follow up for those who live on their own ... individuals fall through the cracks and often end up in a crisis and off of their medications. The providers do not work from a recovery standpoint."
"We were able to get a case worker for our loved one. However, the case worker was so overworked and undertrained that it added to the confusion and frustration."
