MONTGOMERY, Ala. — In its last meeting before the 2025 legislative session, the Alabama Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee approved three preliminary recommendations they want lawmakers to adopt this year.
The committee also announced that the Alabama Department of Mental Health will begin next week accepting applications for veteran treatment pilot programs. There is available $3 million from Alabama’s share of opioid settlement money.
The committee’s three preliminary recommendations, of which ADMH Commissioner Kim Boswell said some have already been drafted as legislation for the upcoming session, are to establish a veterans resource center, expand the state’s care of traumatic brain injuries and to introduce a voluntary firearm surrender program.
“Our first recommendation is that it would be a fabulous idea to have an Alabama veterans resource center in the state (with) the mission to serve as a one-stop center that prioritizes rapid workforce reintegration for Alabama veterans and their families through a job-first strategy,” Boswell said. “It would also include integrated health and behavioral health care and access and support for veterans.”
Last October, the committee discussed the impact of traumatic brain injuries on veterans, with veterans with a history of traumatic brain injuries being nearly 32% more likely to have alcohol use disorders. Veteran suicide rates were also 56% higher among those with traumatic brain injuries than those without.
Under the committee’s recommendation, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services would expand its traumatic brain injury treatment program by removing some of its strict eligibility requirements.
“In Alabama currently, because resources are limited, only individuals who have sustained a brain injury in the last two years are able to receive services or really the resources that are offered through the ADRS,” Boswell said. “So what this would do is expand that program so that no matter when the brain injury occurred, you would be able to receive the services of the nationally recognized Traumatic Brain Injury Program that operates in Alabama.”
The committee’s third recommendation would introduce a new firearm storage program in which veterans could voluntarily surrender their firearms for an indefinite amount of time. The committee first discussed the idea last August, where members looked to mirror Louisiana’s Safer Together program where gun and ammo stores are issued storage units by the state.
“We know from the data that the more time you can put between the individual and their access to a weapon decreases the suicide rate,” Boswell said. “So we are very, very excited about that, there is drafted legislation.”
The committee’s three preliminary recommendations, which were unanimously approved by members, will not use up any of the $3 million the committee has at its disposal. Instead, those funds will be awarded to organizations across the state based on the request for proposal process.
Organizations will be selected based on how well their proposals match the committee’s comprehensive plan to better address veteran mental health needs. That comprehensive plan is nearing completion, with a deadline of April 1 for it to be submitted to the House and Senate committees on Veterans and Military Affairs. The committee will then have until June 30 to submit a plan to the governor, who would have until Aug. 31 to act on the plan.
“The purpose of the RFP is to fund innovative, high-quality pilot projects that align with the goals of the committee’s comprehensive plan and evidence-based best practices,” said Collier Dixon, ADMH chief of staff.
Dixon said that the RFP process would be open on Feb. 7 and close on March 24, and encouraged eligible organizations across the state to submit applications. To be eligible, organizations must propose pilot projects that deliver evidence-based services, and could be certified by ADMH.