PARCA held its 2025 PARCA Annual Forum – State of Mind: Navigating Alabama’s Mental Health Dilemma on March 7, 2025 at The Harbert Center.

Mental health is a statewide concern that profoundly impacts education, workforce productivity, and Alabama’s future. This year’s forum explored state and local policy solutions, innovative programs, and practical strategies to strengthen mental health systems and support Alabama’s students and workers.

The program included insights from state leaders and experts in the field. View each session below.

Why Mental Health?

Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter addressed the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama regarding the critical need for improved mental health support. He shared his personal journey toward understanding the pervasive nature of mental health challenges, prompted by a poignant story from a constituent and a subsequent call to action from the Governor. Ledbetter highlighted key advances in Alabama’s mental healthcare system, including implementing mental health coordinators in schools and establishing crisis centers. Despite this progress, he emphasized that significant work remains, particularly in long-term care, and stressed the widespread impact of mental health issues, even within his own family’s experience. He commended the dedication of mental health professionals and underscored the importance of continued collective effort to address this ongoing crisis in Alabama and the nation.

Mental Health in Alabama

Alabama’s Commissioner of Mental Health, Kimberly G. Boswell, provided an overview of the state of mental health in Alabama. Her presentation highlighted concerning statistics for both adults and youth, including high rates of mental illness, substance use, and suicidal ideation, particularly noting a decline in youth mental health linked to adverse childhood experiences and a shift towards phone-based childhoods. Boswell detailed the devastating impact of past budget cuts on the mental health system but emphasized the significant recent financial commitment and collaborative efforts to rebuild and enhance services. Key initiatives discussed included the development of crisis centers and mobile crisis teams, implementing the 988 crisis hotline, and moving towards an integrated care model focusing on early intervention and addressing trauma. The Commissioner stressed the importance of relationships and limiting phone use to improve mental well-being and praised the unified support from policymakers. Commissioner Boswell’s PowerPoint presentation is available here.

What is Working? How Can We Improve?

The panel discussed the ongoing challenges and impactful initiatives aimed at bolstering mental health support across the state, particularly for children and adolescents. The conversation highlighted the necessity of collaborative efforts, adequate funding, and addressing systemic barriers to enhance mental healthcare access and outcomes. The panelists also touch upon the significance of trauma-informed practices, cultural competency, and the critical role of community and policy in fostering a more supportive mental health landscape.

The panel was moderated by Robin Sparks, Mental Health Initiative Director at the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. Panelists included:
-Jeremy Blair – CEO, Wellstone
-Kate O’Day, LCSW – CEO, Gateway
-Melissa Shields, Ed.D., NBCT – Assistant State Superintendent, State Department of Education
-Chandra Brown Stewart – Executive Director, Lifelines Counseling Services
-Rep. Pebblin Warren – Alabama House of Representatives

Where Do We Go From Here?

Lou Lacey, Director of Emotional Wellness at Children’s of Alabama, addressed the current mental health crisis, particularly among children. Drawing from decades of experience counseling trauma victims and serving as the emotional wellness director, Lacey highlighted the overwhelming need for mental health support, evidenced by increased inpatient days and emergency department visits. Despite these challenges, Lacey offered a message of hope, emphasizing the positive impact of connection, love, and collective effort in addressing these critical issues.

Governor Albert Brewer Legacy Lunch

Governor Kay Ivey provided the keynote address for this year’s Governor Albert Brewer Legacy Lunch. In her address, Gov. Ivey highlighted key achievements during her tenure, emphasizing progress in areas like mental health services, education rankings, broadband access, and infrastructure improvements. She also outlined ongoing legislative priorities, including initiatives to protect children online and enhance public safety. The address reflected on past successes, ongoing challenges, and the governor’s vision for Alabama’s future.

Join us for the 2025 PARCA Annual Forum!

March 7, 2025 at The Harbert Center in Birmingham – 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Mental health is more than a personal challenge—it’s a community concern with profound impacts on education, workforce productivity, and Alabama’s future.

The 2025 PARCA Annual Forum will convene policymakers, business leaders, nonprofit executives, educators, and mental health professionals to address the pressing mental health challenges facing children in schools and adults in the workforce.

Join us on Friday, March 7 at 9:00 a.m. at The Harbert Center in Birmingham as we explore state and local policy solutions, innovative programs, and practical strategies that can strengthen mental health systems and support Alabama’s students and workers.

VIEW THE AGENDA HERE

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

If you need to purchase your tickets or table reservation by check, please reach out to
Sarah Dayhood at [email protected].

SPONSORS INCLUDE:

Sponsorship details available here. Contact [email protected] for more information.

PARCA will be hosting our fifth annual Speaker Series event on the evening of Thursday, September 12th at Red Mountain Theatre Arts Campus.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of cocktails and conversation with New York Times Best-Selling author, Emmy award winner, and respected political analyst – Larry Sabato. He directs Sabato’s Crystal Ball website, a leader in accurately predicting elections since its inception, and he is the author or editor of two dozen books on American politics.

During this exclusive event, Larry Sabato will share anecdotes, answer your questions, and perhaps even reveal a few behind-the-scenes secrets. His incisive commentary has dissected elections, policy decisions, and the pulse of the nation. Whether you’re a seasoned political junkie or simply curious about the intersection of words and power, this evening promises to be enlightening, entertaining and delicious!

The event will include a reception for all guests, a private cocktail reception with Sabato, a lively discussion, a book signing, and a dessert reception. Reserve your seat now for an unforgettable soirée!

The PARCA Speaker Series brings important, relevant voices to Alabama for an evening with our state’s thought leaders and opinion makers.

Your support for this event will go toward PARCA’s mission to inform and improve the decision making of state and local leaders in Alabama through objective research and analysis.

Housing inventory continues to fall, and prices continue to rise. Pressures on the housing market ripple across the economy but may have the most significant impact on middle-income workers – those earning between 80% and 120% of the median income. As housing prices increase, middle-income workers often struggle to live where they work. The shortage of affordable housing complicates hiring and threatens our economic health and community vitality. 

See links to Forum resources below

For example, while median income in Alabama is $60,000. The median home sale price in January was $263,000, one of the largest gaps in our history. Likewise, the Alabama median income supports rent of $1,240, but average rent for a three-bedroom apartment in Alabama is $1,500.

These challenges were the focus of PARCA’s 2024 Annual Forum: Housing Alabama’s Workforce.

The March 7 event welcomed over 300 state and local leaders gathered at the Harbert Center on March 8 to consider these issues and hear an address from Governor Kay Ivey.

Guiding the discussion were Lisa McCarroll of Navigate Housing Partners, Amanda Loper of David Baker Architects, Terry Harbin of Affordable Homes Gulf Coast, Mary Ellen Judah of Neighborhood Concepts, Cory Stallworth of the City of Birmingham, and James Stockard from the Harvard University School of Design.

The speakers explored the housing challenges facing the state’s middle-income workers—those vital to the economy and well-functioning communities, such as teachers, nurses, and first responders.

Lisa McCarroll made the point well, noting that some 40% of Alabamians may qualify for some type of subsidized housing. Another 44% do not qualify, but earn far less than necessary to afford market rate housing.

Amanda Loper offered examples of creative housing around the county that is both affordable and builds community.

Terry Harbin, a for profit developer Mobile, Mary Ellen Judah, Executive Director of the Huntsville-based nonprofit, Neighborhood Concepts, Cory Stallworth of the City of Birmingham, shared their differing approaches to addressing the shortage of workforce housing.

They highlighted the fact that federal tax credits for developing affordable housing in Alabama are restricted to one per county. And currently, Alabama has no state credit, though one has been introduced in the Legislature this session.

Jim Stockard challenged the audience with a series of questions to consider, including:

What are the types of publicly owned sites that might lend themselves to housing construction in Alabama cities?

Where are the existing market rate apartment buildings in your cities that might be re-purposed as mixed income complexes that could serve the workforce in their cities

What should the state allow or even  mandate in terms of local zoning ordinances?

What level of assistance might cities or the state be willing to provide to assist households in becoming homeowners? 

Encouraged…

Attendees noted they were encouraged to know there are people in Alabama working to address these concerns and that there are actually new things that the state can do.

More than 80% of surveyed attendees reported no, slight, or only moderate knowledge of housing policy before the event–and 90% of those same attendees reported the event improved their knowledge of the topic.

Governor Albert Brewer Memorial Lunch

Governor Ivey addressed the audience as part of the Governor Albert Brewer Memorial Lunch

Forum Resources

Annual Forum Program, including housing policy glossary, resources, and data

Why Housing? Ryan Hankins

What is Workforce Housing? Lisa McCarroll

Innovations Around the Country Amanda Loper

Opportunities in Alabama Panel

What is Possible? James Stockard

PARCA—the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama— works to inform and improve state and local government in Alabama through independent, objective, nonpartisan research. We pursue this work to improve the lives of all Alabamians. This is the legacy given to us by our founder, Governor Albert Brewer.

Independent, objective, nonpartisan research requires speaking the truth and calling a thing by its name.

The killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Rayshard Brooks are a series of brutal acts that have gripped our nation’s consciousness and remind us of the racial motivations of segregation, hate, and discrimination. Sadly, this is nothing new. These Americans are among the most recent to join the tragic company of those who have died because of the color of their skin. This is the legacy of systemic racism, injustice, and inequality. This must change.  

Refusing to see, or worse yet, tolerating racism, injustice, and inequality must end. Responding to racism, injustice, and inequality with silence must end. Policies, intentional or otherwise, that sustain racism, injustice, and inequality must change. Until we see these changes, the promise of liberty and justice for all remains hollow. 

PARCA is committed to doing its part to effect such change. In this spirit:

We condemn attitudes, actions, and policies that sustain racism, injustice, and inequality.

We affirm demands for justice, equality, and fairness for African Americans. These are inalienable rights, not policies to debate.  

We support the right to peaceful protests and condemn all acts of violence. 

We invite all people of goodwill to engage in honest self-reflection, to seek a better understanding of the history of African Americans in Alabama and the United States, and to work toward opportunities for reconciliation.

We implore policymakers and leaders at all levels to seek honest information and hear diverse voices to identify and enact policies that will combat systemic racism.

We remain committed to our cause and mission with a renewed sense of responsibility to these concerns.

We continue to produce independent, objective, and nonpartisan research, equipping citizens and leaders with facts that empower, enlighten, and promote mutual understanding.

We reaffirm PARCA’s fundamental premise: Alabama—and the nation—can always do better.

We stand ready to do our part.

The PARCA Roundtable Class of 2020 was announced in late December. The PARCA Roundtable is a member-based organization of young, civic and business leaders interested in broadening their understanding of state and local government in conjunction with the work of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama.

The group meets quarterly to discuss a variety of state and community issues in an effort to increase the involvement of its members in seeking solutions to the state’s problems.

New members of the Roundtable are:

Cliff Bell, CBRE Group

Megan Bell, Shipt

JaTaune Bosby, ACLU of Alabama

Will Bryant, Quantalytix, Inc.

Becky Carpenter, Corporate Realty

Whitney Dachelet, Samford University, Cumberland School of Law

Blair Goodgame, St. Clair County Economic Development Council

Matt Hinshaw, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings

Chris McCauley, Tech Alabama

Lydia Messina, Protective Life Corporation

Stephen Pudner, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz

Christianna Rudder, McKinney Capital

Jack West, EnPower Solutions

Whitney Wright, Athena Collective

“Each year, we receive nominations and applications from some of the best and brightest young civic minds in Alabama, featuring a wide array of backgrounds, industry, and expertise,” says 2019 Roundtable Chair Lee Ann Petty. “We are pleased to welcome our new Roundtable members, and we look forward to an exciting 2020 as we learn more about issues affecting Alabama and support PARCA’s mission of seeking solutions for the betterment of our state and local governments.”

Members are chosen through a nomination process from past and current members as well as the PARCA Board of Directors, based on their demonstration of leadership both professionally and in their community.

Join us for an uproarious night of musical political satire with The Capitol Steps, benefiting the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 AT 7:30 P.M. AT BIRMINGHAM’S HISTORIC LYRIC THEATRE

Reserve your seats here!

At PARCA, working to inform and improve government in Alabama is serious work—and we’ve been doing it for almost 30 years. But sometimes you just need to laugh.

Cue The Capitol Steps!

The Capitol Steps have elevated political satire to an art form. Before The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and features on NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS and NPR, this Washington, DC-based comedy troupe gave audiences laugh cramps with their bipartisan lampooning. The Capitol Steps began in 1981 as a group of Senate staffers who set out to satirize their employers, and haven’t let up with their hilarious skits and musical comedy. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican or Democrat, neither side is safe from the group that puts the “MOCK” in Democracy!

Seats are available at three levels:

• Balcony – General Admission ($50)
• Floor Level – General Admission ($75)
• Preferred Floor Seating & Pre-Show Reception ($100)

This past Wednesday, May 16^th, PARCA held a 2018 Gubernatorial Candidate Forum at Woodrow Hall in Birmingham. The event was hosted by the PARCA Roundtable, PARCA’s young professionals’ group of 28 to 45-year-old civic and business leaders. It was a great opportunity for Democrat and Republican candidates to come together and express ideas in a nonpartisan environment prior to the June 5th primary election.

Participating candidates included Tommy Battle, Sue Bell Cobb, Scott Dawson, James Fields, Bill Hightower and Walt Maddox.

The forum featured one-on-one conversations with each candidate. The six conversations were led by PARCA Roundtable members Victoria Hollis, Peter Jones, and Kendra Key, young professional civic leaders Anthony Hood and Bridgett King, and WBHM News Director Gigi Douban.

A number of the questions specifically addressed the concerns of young professionals. Candidates were also asked about many of the issues most important to voters, as reported in PARCA’s recent Alabama Priorities. At the end of the event, all six candidates came to the stage for questions from the audience of around 135.

Some of the main ideas expressed throughout the evening focused on education, taxes, workforce development, the correctional system and the state’s image.

A collegiality emerged between the candidates throughout the evening, and for a few moments, there were no political parties, only public servants interested in improving the state of Alabama.

 

The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama and the PARCA Roundtable will be hosting the PARCA Roundtable Legislative Symposium on June 23, 2017 from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. at The Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham.

The Symposium will be a review of the 2017 Legislative Session by CEOs of major advocacy organizations in Alabama, including:

• A+ Education Partnership
• Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice
• Alabama Arise
• Alabama Education Association
• Alabama Policy Institute
• Alabama Rivers Alliance
• Business Council of Alabama

The panel will be moderated by Don Dailey, News and Public Affairs Director at Alabama Public Television and Host of Capitol Journal.

Tickets for the breakfast event are $25. Register here today!

We at the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama remember our founder, Governor Albert P. Brewer, who died January 2, 2017, at the age of 88. Gov. Brewer was a lifelong champion of equitable, efficient and effective government for Alabama.

Brewer, who had been elected Lieutenant Governor in 1966, took over as governor in 1968 upon the death of Gov. Lurleen Wallace. In an abbreviated term, Brewer gave the state a tantalizing taste of New South leadership, turning away from confrontational racial politics that had dominated the Wallace years and instead championing reform of state government and the improvement of education.

Brewer established by executive order the first state code of ethics. He declined to fill cabinet positions that had been previously occupied by political operatives. He established a state motor pool, cutting the use of personal vehicles for state business, saving $500,000 a year. He centralized the state’s computer systems saving $1 million.

A former Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, Brewer took a hands-on approach to legislating, pushing through one of the most consequential education reform packages ever passed in Alabama. It equalized educational appropriations and raised them by over $100 million, increasing teacher salaries more than 20 percent over two years.  He launched a Constitutional reform effort, established the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, and launched the operations of the state’s Medicaid program.

Despite the dynamism of his administration and the surge of hope and optimism it inspired among his supporters, Brewer was defeated in the 1970 election by George Wallace. Wallace unleashed what is widely considered one of the dirtiest campaigns in American political history against Brewer, featuring overtly racist appeals, altered photos, and false personal attacks on Brewer family members. Brewer’s defeat represents one of the great lost opportunities in Alabama history, according to former Decatur Daily Publisher Barrett Shelton, a lifelong friend of Brewer’s.

“Albert Brewer put a face on Alabama that other people respected, governors around the Southeast,” Shelton said. “Had he been elected governor this would have a different state today, far more advanced than it is today.”

After retiring from politics, Brewer remained committed to improving his native state. As an elder statesman, Brewer was often called upon to chair state government reform commissions, including his most recent service on the Constitutional Revision Commission. This November, voters approved four amendments to the Constitution based on recommendations by Commission. The amendments improved procedures for voting on local constitutional amendments, clarified the impeachment process, granted counties the ability to exercise some limited home rule powers, and replaced outdated language in some articles.

Joining the faculty of Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in 1987, Brewer led the establishment of PARCA, the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama; a good government think tank dedicated to the improvement of Alabama state and local government. Gov. Brewer envisioned that PARCA would become a trusted source of objective information for state and local leaders. He gave his time and passion to make that vision a reality, serving as the PARCA Chairman until 2013 and as Chairman Emeritus until his death.

Gov. Brewer’s death is an enormous loss for the people of Alabama. He was one of the greatest leaders and finest people our state has known. We will miss him and we will honor him by continuing the legacy he left for us.