Mental health council looks for funding, explains long-term goal

Published 10:37 am Friday, April 6, 2018

Members of an advisory council on mental health further outlined plans Friday for an extensive system to provide care across the area, including a fundraising effort led by Cullman Regional.

The press conference at Cullman County Commission meeting room included Neal Morrison, a former lawmaker, Wellstone executives Jeremy Blair and Chris Van Dyke, Probate Judge Tammy Brown and Lindsey Dossey, vice president of marketing at Cullman Regional.

Dossey announced a voluntary funding plan for members of the community to donate to the mental health effort at cullmanregional.com.

Morrison said $750,000 of funding would allow the council to to move quickly with providing increased out-patient care. Eventually, the council envisions a mental health care system in Cullman County that includes in-patient facilities.

“The long-range goal is a one-stop place for mental health care,” Morrison said. “We can’t wait on the federal government or the state. We will certainly need them at some point, but we know in Cullman County there is a history of taking the initiative through the type of caring community we have, and the expertise that is here.”

This is a developing story. Look for updates today.