Abstract
The Alabama Coalition for a Healthier Black was a demonstration of concept project. This paper is a descriptive and qualitative
overview of this 2.5 year project. Limited key project results are reported here. Located in the rural Black Belt region of
Alabama this coalition had several key aims: to develop a collaboration between primary care and mental health care through
co-location of services; use of video-conferencing capability to provide mental health services more efficiently; enhanced
training in rural healthcare; and development of stigma reduction campaigns along with other coalition partner specific initiatives.
Co-location and telepsychiatry implementation produced the major challenges and resulting adaptations to original aims. Despite
many challenges these new service patterns were put into place and appear to be sustainable.
overview of this 2.5 year project. Limited key project results are reported here. Located in the rural Black Belt region of
Alabama this coalition had several key aims: to develop a collaboration between primary care and mental health care through
co-location of services; use of video-conferencing capability to provide mental health services more efficiently; enhanced
training in rural healthcare; and development of stigma reduction campaigns along with other coalition partner specific initiatives.
Co-location and telepsychiatry implementation produced the major challenges and resulting adaptations to original aims. Despite
many challenges these new service patterns were put into place and appear to be sustainable.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10597-012-9488-z
- Authors
- Robert M. Savage, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 908 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Jacqueline M. Dillon, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 908 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Jacinda C. Hammel, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 908 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Tonia C. Lewis, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 908 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Natasha C. Johnson, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 908 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Lafon M. Barlow, Cahaba Center for Mental Health, Selma, AL, USA
- Molly M. Brooms, Alabama Department of Mental Health, Montgomery, AL, USA
- Patricia M. Moore, West Alabama Mental Health Center, Demopolis, AL, USA
- Henry E. Parker, Montgomery Area Mental Health Authority, Montgomery, AL, USA
- Kanini Z. Rodney, Community Care Network, Montgomery, AL, USA
- Journal Community Mental Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-2789
- Print ISSN 0010-3853