The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation will visit West Alabama Mental Health Center April 5-8, 2010 to document the successful implementation of grant project.

West Alabama Mental Health is a primary partner in the Bristol-Myers-Squibb Foundation, Alabama Coalition for a Healthier Black Belt Project. The BMS Foundation visited the Center in January, 2010 to review the grant project. WAMHC was chosen for the documentary based on the excellent work of WAMHC staff and the level of services provided by the agency through the BMS Foundation funding.

In February, 2008 interdisciplinary mobile unit began services through a grant from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation with the mission to build capacity and address health needs of individuals in the behavioral healthcare system in the Blackbelt. The unit is more convenient for individuals with transportation problems and provides immediate access to services. “Some of the individuals presenting request consultation on mental health issues; information about services for children with behavioral problems, in addition to screenings for depression or individuals looking for guidance concerning substance abuse issues,” described by Patricia Perry Moore, Executive Director of WAMH.

The University of Alabama’s Rural Medical Scholars program provides health screens and referrals, prescription assistance, as well as housing resource information and referral. “Through the collaboration of mental health and primary care training we are developing a model of service delivery that will be an inclusive approach to healthcare as well as address housing and workforce development issues”, says Moore.