Counseling and Community Resources
Listings on this page are for informational purposes only and do not imply any endorsement by Birmingham City Schools. The district holds no liability for services.
Dial 2-1-1, text your zip code to 898-211, or call (888) 421-1266 Dialing 2-1-1 connects you to a trained operator 24/7 that has access to a comprehensive database with a multitude of services in your community. By its design, the 2-1-1 system is ideally suited for serving as the initial contact point for any variety of programs. 2-1-1 is designed to assist families from all walks of life, but most importantly benefits our most vulnerable populations such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and low-income by facilitating access to public services.
Dial 9-8-8 9-8-8- is a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress - whether that is thoughts of suicide, mental health, or substance-use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 9-8-8 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
988 calls will be routed to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline centers in each state, and will offer rapid access to behavioral health support through connection with trained crisis specialists.
Alabama Department of Mental Health
1-800-367-0955 | (334) 242-3454 The Alabama Department of Mental Health serves more than 200,000 Alabama citizens with mental illnesses, intellectual disabilities, and substance use disorders. The department strives to Serve, Empower, and offer Support to create awareness while promoting the health and well-being of Alabamians.
Alabama Poison Information Center
1-800-222-1222 The Alabama Poison Information Center at Children's of Alabama has been serving the people of Alabama since 1958, offering free and confidential poison information and treatment recommendations to the public and health care providers 24 hours a day. Call the 24/7 hotline 1-800-222-1222 for poison advice for all ages.
Alabama Post Adoption Connections (APAC)
(205) 251-7148 Alabama Post Adoption Connections is a statewide program designed to empower adoptive families facing adoption challenges and to facilitate stronger bonds and interactions with adoptive families.
ALL Kids -Children’s Health Insurance Program
1-888-373-KIDS (5437) ALL Kids is a low-cost, comprehensive healthcare coverage program for children under age 19. Benefits include regular checkups and immunizations, sick child doctor visits, prescriptions, vision and dental care, hospitalization, mental health and substance abuse services, and much more.
(205) 638-7481 The Amelia Center is a comprehensive grief counseling center that provides individual and family counseling to children and teens who have experienced a death, or to adults who have experienced the death of a child.
ChildHelp National Child Abuse Hotline
Call or Text 1-800-422-4453 The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is a safe, nonjudgmental and inclusive space for those concerned about or affected by child abuse. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is NOT a reporting line for child abuse. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline Crisis counselors are available to support those concerned about or affected by child abuse and provide appropriate, individualized guidance for those that reach out.
The hotline is NOT connected to emergency services nor is it a replacement for 911 emergency responsive services.
(205) 638-9193 Children's Behavioral Health is an outpatient clinic that provides care through a multidisciplinary team approach. Various types of therapy are provided, including individual, family, and behavioral.
(205) 638-9100 Children's of Alabama has provided specialized medical care for ill or injured children. The hospital serves patients from every county in Alabama and nearly every state. Children's offers inpatient and outpatient services and is one of the largest pediatric medical facilities in the United States.
1600 7th Avenue South
Birmingham AL 35233(205) 583-2883 Child's Play offers speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy as well as psychological services such as IQ/achievement testing, therapy, and counseling. Small groups and camps are also offered.
CHIPS Center-Children's Hospital Intervention and Prevention Services (CHIPS Center)
(205) 638-2751 CHIPS Center has been an outpatient center at Children’s of Alabama since 1995 where children who have experienced suspected abuse and their families impacted by suspected abuse can come for support, hope, and healing. The CHIPS staff is a team of specially trained licensed professional counselors, doctors, licensed social workers, and sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE). CHIPS provides forensic medical evaluations, social work support services, counseling services, and prevention education services.
City of Birmingham Mayor's Office Department of Youth Services
(205) 320-0879 The mission of the City of Birmingham's Department of Youth Services is to promote high-performing education and workforce development systems in the City of Birmingham. The City of Birmingham Department of Youth Services (DYS) accomplishes this by connecting youth to opportunities through innovative partnerships, programs, and services to achieve success via a 5-prong approach.
(205) 323-7777 The mission of the Crisis Center is to serve the unmet needs of people experiencing personal crises or mental health issues and respond with services that promote coping, emotional health and well-being.
The primary service area is Central Alabama, which is defined as the six county area surrounding Birmingham. This includes Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby, and Walker Counties.
The Crisis Center also has a text-enabled hotline dedicated to youth and teens from 3pm - 10 pm seven (7) days a week. To learn more, call (205) 328-5465 or visit UTalk Youth Line - Crisis Center (crisiscenterbham.org.
1-800-985-5990 or text "TalkWithUs" to 66746.
The Disaster Distress Helpline is a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week national hotline dedicated to providing disaster crisis counseling. The toll-free Helpline is confidential and multilingual, and available for those who are experiencing psychological distress as a result of natural or man-made disasters, incidents of mass violence, or any other tragedy affecting America's communities.Disasters happen everywhere, and every member of the family can prepare. Preparedness for the future starts today.
Whether you’re a kid or teen yourself, a parent or loved one, or work with youth, Ready Kids has tools and information to help before, during and after disasters. Visit Welcome to Ready Kids! | Ready.gov today.
Exchange Club Family Skills Center
(205) 801-5151 The Exchange Club acts as the principal child abuse and neglect prevention agency providing parent education and support to both parents and children in the greater Birmingham area
Family Court of Jefferson County
(205) 325-5491 Jefferson County Family Court exercises jurisdiction in matters involving children. These matters might include cases in which a child is alleged to be delinquent, dependent, or in need of supervision. The Court also exercises jurisdiction over other proceedings including establishment of paternity and child support enforcement, as well as protection from abuse.
(205) 510-2600 Gateway provides residential treatment programs for adolescents, therapeutic foster care, transitional living program, family counseling, special education services, domestic violence intervention, as well as community and home-based intervention programs.
(205) 833-9000 Hillcrest Behavioral Health is the only free-standing, full-service psychiatric hospital in the Birmingham area. The comprehensive range of inpatient and outpatient services provides individual, group, family, occupational and recreational therapies.
Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (HICA)
(205) 942-5505 The Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (HICA) provides services dedicated to the social, civic and economic integration of Hispanic families and individuals in Alabama.
(205) 978-1000 This non-profit agency provides transportation to necessary medical appointments. Kid One is the only 501 (c) (3) nonprofit of its kind in the state of Alabama and one of only a handful of nonprofit transportation providers targeting children in the U.S.
Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) wants to help. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Military OneSource offers information and tools on helping you give your children the best chance for success. You’ll find ways to help your youth and teens foster a love for learning, develop life skills that extend far beyond the classroom, help them transition to new schools, and prepare for college and the workplace. Tap into the support and resources of your military community to help you raise smart, responsible children.
(205) 957-0298 Mitchell’s Place specializes in improving the lives of children affected by autism and other developmental disabilities, and also focuses on early learning for preschool-aged children.
National Runaway Safeline (NRS)
1-800-RUN-AWAY (1-800-786-2929) The National Runaway Safeline (NRS) serves as the federally designated national communication system for runaway and homeless youth.
NRS provides education and solution-focused interventions, offers non-sectarian, and non-judgemental support, respects confidentiality, collaborates with volunteers, and responds to at-risk youth and their families through their 24-hour hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center
(205) 453-7261 The mission of One Place is to provide coordinated services to victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence through a multi-disciplinary team of professionals working together under one roof. The services are a part of a collaboration between the YMCA Central Alabama, Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, Birmingham Police Department, Jefferson County District Attorney's Office, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Legal Services Alabama, and United Counseling. One Place offers Camp Hope, which is the first evidence-based, out-of-school learning time program in the United States to focus on children and teens exposed to domestic violence.
(205) 930-3622 Prescott House provides free services to child victims of abuse, severely neglected children and children who have witnessed a violent crime.
Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC) - Emergency Department of Children's of Alabama
(205) 638-PIRC PIRC is 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.
(877)942-2627 ext. 238 Sight Savers provides no-cost comprehensive eye care for children each year through a network of child referral agencies, medical providers and other eye care professionals. This children's eye care network provides vision screenings, eye exams, eyeglasses, medications, surgeries, low vision assessments, vision aids and other therapeutic vision treatments. Transportation, medical insurance and follow-up care are also coordinated.
(205) 251-5131 The United Way of Central Alabama maintains a list of organizations that help with food, clothing, rehabilitation services, elder care, and more. The services are available in Jefferson, Shelby, Walker, Blount and St. Clair Counties from both public and private agencies. 211 information line – caller enters local zip code to be connected with United Way representative in their area who can assist in finding appropriate assistance programs.
YWCA Domestic Violence Services
(205) 322-4878 - 24 hour Crisis Line Provides shelter, counseling, advocacy, and case management for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.