The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) will receive CADCA’s “Outstanding State Member” award. The award recognizes an outstanding state program that has made significant contributions and achievements through support to CADCA coalitions in their state. This is in recognition and support of Alabama’s substance abuse prevention efforts.

ADMH Substance Abuse Prevention staff have worked diligently to promote prevention efforts through many avenues:

• Promotion of a data driven Strategic Prevention Framework statewide
• Prevention services offered in all 67 counties in the state
• Expanded prevention resources and initiatives statewide
• Implemented the Community College Initiative to address substance use prevention
• Participated in the CADCA J&J OTC Medicine Safety Project and engaged Alabama providers and stakeholders to expand prevention education efforts
• Promoted coordinated efforts to strengthen community collaboration
• Created State of Alabama Opioid Action Plan community response strategy to establish CADCA Community Coalitions in each Judicial Circuit; with the desired end state of establishing CADCA Model Community Coalitions at the municipal level
• Coordinated statewide CADCA trainings to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions
• Ensured CADCA approved leadership courses recognized and embedded within state prevention standards

ADMH will be honored with the award at the 29^th Annual Leadership Forum on February 4-7, 2019 in Washington, D.C.

The Alabama Department of Mental Health serves more than 200,000 Alabama citizens with mental illnesses, intellectual disabilities, and substance use disorders. The department strives to Serve, Empower, and offer support to create awareness while promoting the health and well-being of Alabamians. Visit www.mh.alabama.gov for more information.