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FROM STAFF REPORTS

In December 2024, Zach Andrews was hired to fill the role of community mental health liaison, a newly-created and locally-funded position by the Shelby County Commission, which falls under the supervision of Shelby County Director of Juvenile and Risk Operations Hub Harvey.

The role of this new position is to work with state and local agencies, including local law enforcement and hospitals in the prevention of psychiatric hospitalizations, detention by law enforcement and the admission of individuals to state or local psychiatric hospitals. The liaison is responsible for serving as a liaison between law enforcement, treatment providers, county and state court officials and the general public.

“I’m incredibly honored and excited to serve as the community mental health liaison and mental health officer,” Andrews said. “This role is both a privilege and a responsibility, one that I embrace with great purpose. I am deeply committed to advancing mental health initiatives, strengthening partnerships and ensuring individuals and families throughout the county receive the support and resources they deserve. I believe this role will be instrumental in fostering lasting and positive change in our community.”

Andrews is a licensed professional counselor and earned his Master of Education in counseling and Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from the University of Montevallo. Since beginning his employment with the county, he has completed several specialized trainings, including mental health first aid for public safety, mental health crisis intervention and CIT coordinator training. His education, training and wealth of experience, including serving as the probate court liaison employed by Central Alabama Wellness, qualify him to serve as a community mental health officer.

Alabama law creates the role of community mental health officer and allows for the implementation of a community mental health officer program by the agreement of the Shelby County Commission and the Shelby County probate judge where provisions and necessary facilities exist within the county to support such a program. The implementation of this program will allow the community mental health liaison to serve as a community mental health officer with the authority to assist law enforcement in the evaluation of persons suspected to be in mental health crisis and divert those individuals from incarceration to proper psychiatric evaluation and treatment facilities and resources.

The implementation of the community mental health officer has garnered support from the law enforcement agencies within Shelby County as well as other partners. In attendance at the County Commission meeting in support of the proposed resolution and implementation of the program were representatives from: Shelby County Probate Court, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Calera Police Department, Alabaster Police Department, Hoover Police Department, Helena Police Department, Central Alabama Wellness, Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, Shelby County Public Defender’s Office and Shelby County Community Corrections.

“The creation of the mental health liaison position in Shelby County is a huge step forward in bridging the gap between law enforcement and mental health services,” Calera Chief of Police David Hyche said. “This partnership will increase connections to resources, reduce repeat encounters, minimize encounters resulting in arrests and most importantly, reduce use of force encounters with people who have mental health needs. “

The Shelby County Commission unanimously passed a resolution approving the implementation of the community mental health officer program in accordance with Alabama law on May 12. Upon the approval of the resolution by the County Commission, Shelby County Probate Judge Allison Boyd entered an order invoking the community mental Health officer program in Shelby County.

First responders encounter people with mental illnesses in many different types of situations, in roles that include criminal offenders, disorderly persons, complainants, victims and persons in need of care. When encountering these individuals, the first responder may not always realize that mental illness is involved and may try to handle the situation as usual but not get the compliance or cooperation expected which can lead to escalating tension and crisis situations.

The implementation of this program will allow the community mental health officer to step in and assist first responders to ensure individuals they suspect to be in mental health crisis receive mental health evaluation and treatment when appropriate.

While Andrews is serving in the expanded role of community mental health liaison, he will also arrange for and conduct specialized training, in mental illness recognition, crisis management techniques and identification of local mental health resources for community first responders in conjunction with the community mental health program.

While the community mental health officer program is a resource for law enforcement, Central Alabama Wellness provides a similar resource for the general public whereby any community member can report concern for a person with a mental illness whom they believe to be a danger to themselves or others and who is not willing to seek treatment to the Central Alabama Wellness Probate Court liaison. The reporter will be directed to services or to the appropriate resources to access evaluation and treatment through involuntary commitment court proceedings.

“The implementation of the mental health officer program is due to the vision of those past leaders in Shelby County that taught those of us in roles of leadership today that we have to dream big and work hard,” Boyd said. “Our mental health task force team, which includes representatives from the Circuit Court, District Court, Probate Court, District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, sheriff’s office, Community Corrections, Central Alabama Wellness and county government has definitely worked hard and continues to dream of other ways to help individuals and families in our community receive the support and resources they desperately need.”