VitAL Alabama

A Paycheck and a Date on Friday Night: What Recovery Looks Like
2026-08-04 08:30 - 10:00 (America/Chicago)
This course will focus on the role of employment in recovery with a focus on justice-involved job seekers and the integration of clinical community behavioral health services with IPS supported employment services. Attendees will learn how clinicians and IPS supported employment services interact via the referral stream to support job seekers through their employment journeys. The course will also address stressors for job seekers in recovery and how stable, meaningful employment can be a protective factor against undesirable behavioral health outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will know how to apply the dignity of risk and the duty to care when referring justice-involved individuals to supported employment services.

Participants will define what a ‘niche’ is in the context of IPS and will give one example of a person with significant mental health challenges who was able to discover the job in which they shined.

Participants will list three ways in which boredom is stressful.

Not Another Puff: Youth Tobacco, Vaping and Treatment Summit
2026-07-28 08:00 - 17:00 | The Wynfrey Hotel, 1000 Galleria Circle, Birmingham, AL, 35244, United States
Nicotine use and dependence among young people are rising quickly due to vaping. This has become a serious public health issue that warrants urgent attention. The lack of programs designed specifically for youth who vape nicotine, tobacco and other mood altering substances makes it harder for them to recover and stay healthy. Research shows that teens who are dependent on nicotine and tobacco often struggle to find care to treat their individual needs. When service providers lack the latest information about vaping, and the clinical tools needed to support decreased use, adolescents may become more dependent on different substances instead of receiving the treatment they need. Learning about vaping trends, the availability of cessation resources, and how to access different options can help providers in Alabama guide youth to quality treatment services that result in decreased use and sustained recovery.

Every Step Towards Better C.A.R.E.: SBIRT, Perinatal Behavioral Health, and the C.A.R.E. Certification in Alabama
2026-07-24 11:00 - 12:00
Pregnant and postpartum individuals in Alabama face significant barriers to receiving the behavioral health support while maternal health providers do not always have access to best practice tools, training, and frameworks that can be adapted to their specific patient population needs. Every Step Towards Better C.A.R.E. explores these barriers to person-focused maternal behavioral health and available tools to address them.

Attendees will learn about Every Step’s new initiative for community organizations and individuals: the C.A.R.E. Certification, a framework rooted in Compassion, Accessibility, Recovery, and Excellence. L.B. Brown will guide participants through how the C.A.R.E. Certification is designed to equip community organizations and providers with the knowledge and commitment needed to deliver stigma-reducing, trauma-informed perinatal behavioral health care. Attendees will engage in discussion regarding VitAL’s accessible toolkits and platforms for universal substance use and behavioral health screening, intervention and treatment, leaving the session with the skills and supports they need to identify and address substance use, depression, and domestic violence among perinatal populations across Alabama. Whether you are new to universal behavioral health screening or looking for a structured pathway to enhance your practice, this webinar is for you!

One CE credit available for attendees.

Suicide Prevention and Substance Use/Co-Occurring Disorders
2026-07-20 11:00 - 12:30
Individuals experiencing substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions face an increased risk of suicide, underscoring the need for coordinated, evidence-based prevention efforts. This webinar will explore the relationship between substance use, mental health, and suicide risk while highlighting strategies that can be implemented across healthcare, behavioral health, public health, and community-based settings. Participants will learn how cross-sector collaboration, integrated systems of care, and sustainable prevention initiatives can improve access to treatment, strengthen recovery supports, and reduce suicide risk among individuals with co-occurring disorders.

By participating in this training, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the warning signs and risk factors associated with suicide in individuals experiencing substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders.2. Explain the relationship between substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and suicide risk, including how these conditions influence one another.3. Apply evidence-based screening and intervention strategies to assess suicide risk and respond appropriately in clinical and community settings.4. Recognize protective factors and develop safety planning strategies that promote recovery, resilience, and suicide prevention for individuals with co-occurring disorders.5. Utilize appropriate referral resources and multidisciplinary collaboration to connect individuals with ongoing mental health, substance use treatment, and crisis intervention services.

Why Am I Like This? Understanding Human Behavior
2026-06-30 13:00 - 14:00
Human behavior is not an accident. In many cases, it is quite predictable, and the people we become as adults are deeply connected to our childhood experiences and the environments that shaped us. This session explores how human development unfolds and how we can better support those looking to create new behavioral pathways.

Suicide Prevention in Rural & Underserved Communities
2026-06-22 11:00 - 12:30
In this webinar participants will gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges that contribute to suicide risk in rural and underserved communities, including barriers to accessing behavioral health services and support. The webinar will explore evidence-based suicide prevention strategies that can be implemented across healthcare, public health, and community-based settings, with an emphasis on collaboration between sectors. Attendees will also learn practical approaches for strengthening local suicide prevention infrastructure, expanding access to care, and developing sustainable systems that support long-term suicide prevention efforts. Through real-world examples and actionable recommendations, participants will be better equipped to advance suicide prevention initiatives within their own communities and organizations. June 22, 2026 11am-12:30pm CST By participating in this training, participants will be able to: Identify key systemic barriers associated with increased suicide risk in rural and underserved communities. Evaluate evidence-based suicide prevention strategies appropriate for implementation by healthcare, public health, and community-based organizations and within rural communities and opportunities for cross-sector collaboration between these systems to support suicide prevention. Recognize practical approaches to expand access to behavioral health care and strengthen sustainable suicide prevention infrastructure.

From Prison to the Olympics - The Tony Hoffman Story
2026-06-16 13:00 - 14:00
Tony Hoffman shares vulnerably his life experiences with mental health challenges, addiction, homelessness and incarceration to coaching at the 2016 Olympic games. A story of hope & inspiration for anyone working in behavioral health and addiction treatment

Ketamine Therapy for Addiction Treatment
2026-06-09 13:00 - 14:30
1.5 FREE CEs provided for Nurses, Counselors, and Social WorkersPresenter: Brent E. Boyett DMD, DO, DFASAM

Once known primarily as an anesthetic, ketamine has rapidly gained attention as a transformative therapeutic tool capable of producing rapid changes in mood, cognition, and behavior. The presentation will examine the neurobiology of addiction, the limitations of traditional treatment approaches, and the growing evidence supporting ketamine-assisted interventions for substance use disorders.Special emphasis will be placed on the concept of neuroplasticity and the idea that ketamine may help “rewire” maladaptive neural circuits that underlie compulsive behaviors, trauma, depression, and addiction. Participants will learn how ketamine represents the first widely utilized medication in what may become an entirely new class of psychiatric and addiction treatments—psychedelic neuroplastogens that can fundamentally alter thought patterns and behavioral responses. The lecture will also discuss current clinical evidence, therapeutic models, safety considerations, ethical questions, and the exciting future of psychedelic therapy in addiction medicine.At the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:1. Explain the neurobiological mechanisms by which ketamine may reduce addictive behaviors and cravings.2. Evaluate the current evidence supporting ketamine-assisted therapy for substance use disorders.3. Identify the benefits, risks, and ethical considerations of ketamine treatment in addiction medicine.

Alabama Opioid Prevention Summit (Prattville)
2026-06-05 08:00 - 17:00

Webinar: The Role of Employment in Recovery
2026-06-03 10:30 - 12:00
Learning objectives:

· Learn why work matters and its impact on people’s recovery.

· Learn and apply the different IPS principles to support people’s recovery journey.

· Learn that integrated mental health treatment and employment services lead to better employment outcomes.

Ruth Brock, M.S., joined the IPS Employment Center in January 2020. Ruth provides IPS training, technical assistance, and fidelity reviews to states and countries in the IPS International Learning Community, as well as to other jurisdictions and contracts. Ruth educates leaders on infrastructure to implement IPS in a sustainable way. She serves as a seasoned vocational professional with decades of progressive multi-level responsibilities in service and program delivery for people with different abilities. Ruth is inspired by the words of singer/songwriter Toby Mac “yes, it’s going to be hard but hard is not impossible.”

Alabama Opioid Prevention Summit (Virtual)
2026-06-03 08:00 - 17:00

Alabama Opioid Prevention Summit (Birmingham)
2026-06-03 08:00 - 17:00 | The Wynfrey Hotel, 1000 Galleria Circle, Birmingham, AL, 35244, United States

S.A.V.E. Webinar
2026-05-28 13:00 - 14:00
This webinar will provide an overview of the VA S.A.V.E. Training, an evidence-based suicide prevention training designed to help individuals recognize and respond to Veterans who may be experiencing a crisis or suicidal thoughts. Participants will learn how to identify warning signs, confidently ask the important questions about suicide, validate a Veteran’s experience, and encourage treatment and immediate support. The training emphasizes practical intervention strategies, compassionate communication, and connecting Veterans with appropriate resources and care. Attendees will leave with increased confidence in supporting Veterans and promoting suicide prevention within their communities.

By participating in this training, participants will be able to:

-Describe the scope and impact of suicide among Veterans in the United States.

-Identify current and emerging efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs to address mental health and suicide prevention.

-Explain the value of community partnerships in supporting Veterans’ mental health and suicide prevention efforts.

-Recognize warning signs and risk factors associated with suicide among Veterans and other individuals.

-Demonstrate appropriate steps to take when identifying and responding to a Veteran or individual at risk for suicide.

Understanding Perinatal OCD: Reducing Fear, Improving Care
2026-05-27 12:00 - 13:00
Speaker: Lauren Amacker, LICSW, PIP

EMDR Therapy: A Clinical Framework for Trauma-Informed Assessment & Treatment Planning
2026-05-26 14:00 - 15:30
1.5 DSM CEs for Social workers, counselors, and nurses

Presenter: Wendi Hogue, M.Ed., LPC, NCC

This continuing education webinar offers mental health clinicians a practical, clinically grounded framework for connecting DSM-5-TR diagnosis to EMDR treatment planning. Participants will examine the trauma related diagnostic categories most encountered in EMDR practice. Including post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociative disorders, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorders, and consider how each diagnosis points toward specific memory networks and treatment targets.

We will walk through the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model and the 8-phase protocol, exploring how theory translates directly into clinical decision-making including where to start, what to target, and how to sequence treatment across complex presentations.

A clinical case example will be used throughout to demonstrate how diagnostic conceptualization becomes an EMDR treatment plan, with specific attention to protocol modifications for dissociation, complex PTSD, and borderline personality disorder.

At the conclusion of this training, participants will be able to:

Discuss contraindications, stabilization strategies, and clinical decision-making for when and how to modify standard EMDR protocols with complex presentations.

Identify the core DSM-5-TR diagnostic categories most associated with trauma presentations and their clinical relevance to EMDR practice.

Explain the theoretical foundations of EMDR therapy, including Shapiro’s Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model and its neurobiological basis.

Apply EMDR’s 8 phase protocol to clinical case conceptualization across a range of DSM-5-TR diagnoses.

Differentiate EMDR target selection and protocol modifications for PTSD, complex trauma, opioid use disorder, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and dissociative presentations, including adaptations for trauma-related symptoms in individuals with comorbid opioid use disorder.

Trauma-Informed Perinatal Care: Evidence-Based and Creative Approaches to Supporting Maternal Mental Health
2026-05-22 12:00 - 13:00

Hidden Hazards: Understanding Today's Evolving Addictions: Wired for Reward: Behavioral Addictions in the Digital Era
2026-05-20 14:00 - 15:00
This course explores the complex interplay between brain biology, behavior, and technology in the development of behavioral addictions. Participants will examine the neurobiological mechanisms underlying compulsive behaviors, with a focus on the brain’s reward circuitry and dopamine pathways. The session will differentiate substance-related and behavioral addictions, highlighting shared and unique diagnostic criteria in DSM-5 and ICD-11. Learners will analyze how technology-driven environments amplify reward-seeking behaviors and contribute to compulsive patterns of use, while evaluating biopsychosocial risk factors that increase vulnerability in the digital age. Evidence-based interventions, including cognitive-behavioral strategies, mindfulness approaches, and pharmacological options, will be reviewed to inform clinical practice and prevention strategies.

Participants will be able to:

Evaluate evidence-based interventions and emerging strategies for prevention and treatment of technology-related behavioral addictions.

Explain the neurobiological and psychological mechanisms underlying behavioral addictions, emphasizing the brain’s reward system and its interaction with digital technologies.

Differentiate key behavioral addictions in the digital era, including diagnostic criteria, risk factors, and the impact on interpersonal functioning.

Someone on Their Side
2026-05-13 13:00 - 14:00
Join us for two powerful sessions in our Justice Webinar Series, each offering 1 hour of FREE CE credit. On May 13, Dr. Karen Johnson presents “Someone on Their Side,” an evidence-based training examining how stigma impacts care and recovery outcomes for individuals under community supervision. Together, these webinars provide both personal insight and research-driven strategies to better support individuals navigating substance use and reentry. Click the link to register and be part of these impactful conversations.

Beyond the Baby Blues: An Overview of Perinatal Mood/Anxiety Disorders
2026-05-13 12:00 - 13:00
Speaker: Morgan Bradwell, LICSW, PMH-C

The Waiting Period, Baby Blues, and Beyond: Bridging the Gap Between Clinical Care & the Perinatal Experience
2026-05-07 12:00 - 13:30
Speakers: Courtney Benjamin, LPC & Chania Mitchell, MS, ALC

Resources for Justice-Involved Job Seekers
2026-05-04 10:30 - 12:00
o SME: Sandra Reese (IPS Employment Center / RFMH Inc.)

Resources for Justice-Involved Job Seekers will examine the dynamics and best practices involved in helping job seekers with a history of justice involvement in their search for meaningful, competitive employment. The session will cover strategies, including a four-step approach to disclosure, that will assist attendees who engage with justice-involved job seekers. The session will also explore dynamics related to what a job seeker may expect from employers throughout their employment journey.

Adolescent Crisis Response and Behavioral Health Summit
2026-05-04 08:00 - 2026-05-06 17:00
The Adolescent Crisis Response & Behavioral Health Summit brings together professionals across Alabama to strengthen how we respond to youth in crisis. This one-day training focuses on practical strategies, cross-system collaboration, and improving access to care for adolescents experiencing behavioral health and substance use challenges. Participants will gain tools to better navigate crisis response, intervention, and referral pathways. Join us to build a more coordinated and effective approach to supporting youth.

Huntsville 5/4 | Birmingham 5/5 | Mobile 5/6

Deep Dive: ASAM-Based Placement Assessment Part II: Risk Ranking Considerations and Level of Care- Turning Info into Outcomes
2026-04-30 02:00 - 16:00
Once information has been gathered, it is the responsibility of the clinician to synthesize the information, make connections across dimensions, and provide level of care and treatment recommendations. This presentation provides a practical, ASAM-based framework for translating comprehensive placement assessment data into defensible risk ratings and clinically appropriate levels of care. It reviews the six ASAM dimensions, emphasizing how substance use patterns, biomedical conditions, emotional/behavioral health, readiness to change, continued use potential, and recovery environment interact to inform risk ratings. Through definitions, decision rules, and case examples, the training illustrates how to justify ratings, weigh dimensions, and apply key exceptions. The presentation also outlines residential and outpatient levels of care, principles of least restrictive treatment, and importance of shared decision-making. Overall, it equips clinicians to convert interview information into consistent, client-centered placement decisions that align clinical need, client preference, and system navigation considerations.

At the conclusion of this training, participants will be able to:

Explain the role of Shared Decision Making in placement decisions and client-centered care planning.

Describe how information from each dimension informs risk ratings and supports clinical justification.

Apply collected assessment information to determine risk ratings and identify the most clinically appropriate level of care to meet client needs.

Deep Dive: ASAM-Based Placement Assessment Part I: The Interview- Using the Tool to Obtain Information
2026-04-29 14:00 - 16:00
This presentation seeks to provide an overview of conducting a client-centered placement interview utilizing ASAM- based considerations. The presentation emphasizes ensuring client understanding, minimizing stigma, and applying trauma-informed practices while gathering clinically relevant biopsychosocial information. It reviews key considerations across ASAM Dimensions 1–6, including substance use patterns, withdrawal risk, medical and mental health conditions, readiness to change, continued use potential, and recovery environment. Not only is it important to know what to ask, but to consider the way in which we as clinicians ask and elicit information. Throughout, the training highlights accurate documentation, objective assessment, and the ethical responsibility to balance clinical rigor with empathy to gain relevant information.

At the conclusion of this training, participants will be able to:

Gather comprehensive and clinically relevant information to determine appropriate substance use treatment needs.

Conduct client interviews in a manner that promotes understanding, clarity, and engagement.

Demonstrate client-focused care by recognizing and responding to the impact of assessment questions on the client.

Redeemed: A Recovery Story
2026-04-22 13:00 - 14:00
Join us for two powerful sessions in our Justice Webinar Series, each offering 1 hour of FREE CE credit. On April 22, explore “Redeemed: A Recovery Story” with Jocelynn James, a moving testimony on overcoming addiction and finding purpose through restoration, accountability, and community. Then on May 13, Dr. Karen Johnson presents “Someone on Their Side,” an evidence-based training examining how stigma impacts care and recovery outcomes for individuals under community supervision. Together, these webinars provide both personal insight and research-driven strategies to better support individuals navigating substance use and reentry. Click the link to register and be part of these impactful conversations.

Prattville- Stop Judging Start Healing Stigma Summit
2023-01-25 08:15 - 16:45
Keynote Speaker: Ryan Leaf is a former American football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons. He played for the San Diego Chargers and the Dallas Cowboys between 1998 and 2001, and also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Seattle Seahawks.

After his NFL career ended, Leaf completed his degree at Washington State. He had legal troubles involving drugs beginning in 2010 after a Texas judge sentenced him to 10 years probation. Two years later, Leaf pleaded guilty to felony burglary and drug possession in Montana. After a suspended sentence with a stint in drug rehabilitation, Leaf began serving a seven-year sentence in state prison in December 2012. On September 9, 2014, Leaf was sentenced to five years in prison for violating his Texas probation by breaking into a home in Montana to steal prescription drugs, but he was released from prison on December 3, 2014.
