Thank you for your interest in becoming a community service provider. The Alabama Department of Mental Health has oversight for a broad network of care, treatment, programs, and services that specifically enable persons with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, or substance abuse disorders to reside in communities. Individuals and organizations that provide services or are interested in providing such services in your communities must meet certain requirements and must be certified by the Alabama Department of Mental Health.

To begin the process, prospective providers are expected to attend a one-day mandatory orientation program called “Prospective Community Provider Orientation”. This program is designed to provide essential information about the certification process, including information on life safety and physical facility standards, nurse delegation, criminal background checks, programmatic requirements, and certification administration, as well as instruction on how to complete the certification application. Attendance is required in order to obtain an application.

The orientation program was developed to assist individuals in increasing their knowledge of the mental health system and the delivery of mental health services in the State of Alabama. It is presented in an open forum format that provides “prospective community providers” an opportunity to ask questions and interact with others with like interests, as well as participate in discussions on related topics. Throughout the day, knowledgeable staff are available to serve as resources for beginning the certification process. In order to meet the needs of each of the service divisions, community provider orientation is offered four times per year (quarterly) by staff of the Alabama Department of Mental Health.

To register for an orientation program, view the schedule by clicking on the link below. You must complete the registration form and submit it as instructed on the form, along with a small, non-refundable $75 registration fee. You must complete the orientation training requirement BEFORE submitting your initial application.

Prospective Community Provider Orientation 2012 Schedule

Prospective Community Provider Orientation Registration Form

To confirm that your registration has been received and to obtain instructions, please click on the links below:

TO CONFIRM RECEIPT OF YOUR REGISTRATION

TO OBTAIN DIRECTIONS AND PARKING INFORMATION

MAP TO CAPITOL COMPLEX

Be sure to visit other areas of the Alabama Department of Mental Health website, including Certification Administration, Life Safety and Technical Services, Nurse Delegation Program, and the Bureau of Special Investigations, which are all areas involved in the certification process. There are many other resources available through each of the Department’s service divisions – Developmental Disabilities (formerly Intellectual Disabilities or Mental Retardation) and the division of Mental Illness and Substance Abuse. You may also find an abundance of general information on the Internet under the small business administration websites that will give you insight on starting a business in Alabama.