Alabama DHR/Mandatory Reporting
The Office of Child Protective Services provides the following functions for the Family Services Division of the Department of Human Resources:
- Maintains the Central Registry on Child Abuse and Neglect
- Applies for and monitors grants for protective services projects
- Provides case consultation services
More information
- Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting
- Child Abuse/Neglect Administrative Reviews
- Child Protective Services Resources
- Central Registry Clearance (Adam Walsh clearance)
- Mandated Reporters
- Final R.C. Consent Decree Opinion and Order
- Annual Progress and Services Report
- Voter Registration Information
Anti-Racism
ASCA offers numerous resources to assist school counselors in talking to their students about race issues and anti-racism including professional development opportunities, articles, webinars, podcasts, and teaching resources.
Bullying Prevention & Awareness
Use these resources to promote healthy peer-to-peer relationships:
COVID-19
Emotional Support Help Line for COVID-19
1-866-342-6892
Free access to specially trained mental health specialists to support people experiencing anxiety or stress around COVID-19.
Managing Stress and Anxiety during COVID-19
- Coping with Stress – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has created this resource related to mental health and coping during COVID-19.
- Child and Adolescent Activities from the National Child Trauma Stress Network
Additional COVID-19 Resources
- Alabama Department of Public Health
- Free COVID-19 Program for Schools from Harvard Graduate School of Education
- ACT – ACT Testing amid COVID -19
- SAT – PSAT-Related Assessment and SAT Coronavirus Updates
- ASCA Resources – School Counseling During COVID-19
- Alabama Works!
- US Department of Education
Cybersafety
Use these resources to promote healthy cybercitizenship:
- The American Federation of Teachers’ Cyberbullying Resource Guide
- Common Sense Education’s Anti-Cyberbullying Toolkit
Domestic Violence
- National Domestic Violence Hotline (https://www.thehotline.org/about/)
24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse.
Drug Awareness
- The Addiction Prevention Coalition (APC) is a non-profit community resource that aims to eliminate addiction in Central Alabama. Originally named The Freedom Source, APC has been providing support for the greater Birmingham area for over a decade. Through in-school prevention programs, educational events, and a collection of support services, APC aims to be a convener of organizations united to prevent addiction and relapse. (https://apcbham.org/)
- Compact 2020 is a collaborative initiative designed to address the full spectrum of substance abuse through prevention, intervention, and education. Compact 2020 is a unique approach that is the first of its kind. This project is directed by the Shelby County District Attorney, the County Manager and the Shelby County Sheriff. The Compact 2020 team is accountable to a Governance Board consisting of leadership from four school systems, the participating municipalities, and specialized partners such as Central Alabama Wellness. (https://www.compact2020.com/)
- Partnership for Drug Free Kids (www.drugfree.org)
Offers support and guidance to families struggling with their child’s substance abuse.
Family Assistance
- Alabama Assistance Programs
Locate help, government financial aid and assistance in all Alabama cities and counties, including Birmingham and Montgomery. Programs can help pay housing costs, rent, energy bills, mortgages, and offer free health care. Go to the Alabama Assistance Program website
Grief
- The Amelia Center (https://www.childrensal.org/amelia-center)
At The Amelia Center, a compassionate and caring group of professional grief counselors and support staff provide counseling and support to:- Parents and families grieving the death of a child.
- Children, teenagers, young adults (19-21), and their caregivers grieving the death of someone in their life.
Families attending The Amelia Center find support, understanding, and comfort that they are not walking the path alone. Additionally, The Amelia Center serves as a community resource for consultation and training to schools, churches, and area organizations in the area of grief support.
General Resources
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. NIMH is one of the 27 Institutes and Centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest biomedical research agency in the world. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Their mission is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illness through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, receovery, and cure. - PIRC (Psychiatric Intake Response Center)
Navigating the mental health care system is challenging for patients, families, and providers. The Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC), located in the Emergency Department at Children’s of Alabama, is a confidential psychiatric response center designed to assist patients, their loved ones and/or caregivers, and community providers in finding the appropriate level of mental health care. These services are provided via telephone or in person by licensed mental health clinicians trained to assess a child or teen’s mental, emotional, and behavioral needs and recommend the best treatment options. - NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness (https://www.nami.org/Home)
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. - Sight Savers of America (https://sightsaversamerica.org/)
Sight Savers America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that works to identify and secure the eye care needs of children, from their first pair of eyeglasses to extensive sight-saving treatment and high-tech vision aids for those with severe visual impairment. - United Way (https://www.unitedway.org/) – United Way of Alabama (https://www.unitedway.org/local/united-states/alabama)
United Way is engaged in nearly 1,800 communities across more than 40 countries and territories worldwide. They are focused on creating community-based and community-led solutions that strengthen the cornerstones for a good quality of life: education, financial stability and health.
Helping Students in Troubling Times
ASCA offers some suggestions and resources to consider as you provide ongoing support to your students. Before you take any action, review your school and district policies to be sure you don’t violate any policies as you help your students. For example, some districts have policies prohibiting faculty from talking about politics with students. In addition, consult with your district to discover any guidance or response initiatives it has in place so your actions align with school and district programs.
Human Trafficking
- Shared Hope (https://sharedhope.org)
Shared Hope International strives to prevent the conditions that foster sex trafficking, restore victims of sex slavery, and bring justice to vulnerable women and children. We envision a world passionately opposed to sex trafficking and a community committed to restoring survivors to lives of purpose, value and choice – one life at a time. - The WellHouse (https://www.the-wellhouse.org)
The WellHouse is a faith-based and Christ-centered nonprofit organization offering immediate shelter and transitional housing to women who have been trafficked, are prostituting, or otherwise sexually exploited. Food, clothing, spiritual guidance, Christian counseling, and other necessities are provided, along with assisting with referrals for substance abuse treatment, if needed. Life skills classes, GED preparation, and other enrichment services are part of the experience to help these women become self-sufficient and give them a sense of self-worth. The goal is for women to go on to live full and productive lives.
Mental Health Apps
Numerous mental health apps exist to support and encourage positive mental health practices. Many of these are free and available for download on android or apple devices.
Suicide Prevention and Resources
- Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resources Coalition(https://www.asparc.org/)
Originally a taskforce of individuals chosen to help the Alabama Department of Public Health in suicide prevention strategy, the Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resources Coalition is now a fully-fledged non-profit organization educating people within the state of Alabama in basic suicide prevention techniques and strategies. - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/)
We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
- NIMH Suicide Prevention Resources
- The Trevor Project (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/)
Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.
Alabama’s Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Model
The Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance State Model for Alabama Public Schools (the State Plan) provides a framework for local school systems and schools to develop and implement school counseling and guidance programs.
Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Model for Alabama Public Schools (State Plan)
American School Counselor Association National Model
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) created the ASCA National Model in part to help answer questions related to the impact and importance of school counselors. This model is a framework for a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program.
Explore the National Model and associated sections on the ASCA website to learn more about the model, its components, and the positive impact on student achievement that can be gained by program development based on this model.