When creating this website, including NICU caregivers in the process was essential. We interviewed interested caregivers to hear more about what support they want to see on this site. After interviewing the parents, we researched local resources helpful to NICU caregivers. Often, there are supports around, but finding them can be challenging. We aimed to remove that process and make it more accessible for caregivers to find what they need.

Emergency Resources

  • 9-1-1 (National Emergency Hotline)
  • 205-323-7777 (Birmingham Crisis Center Hotline)
  • 9-8-8 (Alabama’s three-digit lifeline phone number for any mental health, substance use, and suicide crises)

Project Sweet Peas

Project Sweet Peas is a non-profit and volunteer-led organization. They are passionate about supporting families of premature or sick infants and those affected by pregnancy and infant loss (Project Sweet Peas, 2023). On their website site, you can find mental health worksheets, Facebook groups, NICU care package requests, Bereavement support, and more!

When building this website, we had the opportunity to talk with Carrie Tyler. She is based out of Huntsville, Alabama and currently serves on the board of advisors. To hear more about Carrie’s story, visit Carrie’s story on the project sweet peas website.

Project Sweet Peas Alabama. Project Sweet Peas. (n.d.). https://www.projectsweetpeas.com/alabama.html 

National Alliance on Mental Health Birmingham, Alabama

The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) offers different programs, support groups, and resources for people experiencing mental health issues. Some of the programming provided includes:

  • NAMI Connection is a program that has different support group options. For more information, click here.
  • NAMI Family Support is a peer-led program to support adults with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. For more information, click here.
  • NAMI peer-to-peer is a free eight-session program for adults experiencing mental health symptoms. For more information, click here.
  • NAMI family-to-family is a free eight-session program for family and friends of people experiencing mental health symptoms. For more information, click here.
  • NAMI fact sheets covering different mental health topics. For more information, click here

Support for Mental Health. NAMI Birmingham. (2023, September 18). https://namibham.org/ 

UAB Community Counseling Clinic

The UAB Community Counseling Clinic offers affordable counseling services to the Birmingham area. Counseling sessions are led by well-trained graduate students and supervised by experienced faculty members. The clinic is committed to making its services easily accessible. Sessions at the clinic are adjusted depending on a person’s income and family size. Costs range from $5 per individual session to $30 per session at most. To schedule an appointment, please call 205-996-2414 or visit the clinic website.

Bryant, T. (n.d.). Explore UAB. Home – Community Counseling Clinic. https://www.uab.edu/education/counselingclinic/ 

United Way of Central Alabama

United Way of Central Alabama focuses on health, education, and access to services for people within the Birmingham area. They offer many different resources, including:

  • Connect 2-1-1 allows individuals to search more than 800 community organizations throughout Alabama to find the help you need. This telephone line is also free and confidential. For more information, call 211 or visit their website.
  • Crisis response is a United Way resource committed to providing helpful services and meeting needs, such as food assistance, shelter, disaster relief, and more. For more information, click here.

United Way of Central Alabama – Home . United Way of Central Alabama. (2023, September 22). https://www.uwca.org/ 

Craig Crisis Care Center

The Craig Crisis Care Center is a temporary place for individuals experiencing a psychiatric, behavioral, or substance use crisis. The organization serves 20 different counties in the Birmingham area. The goal of the Center is to serve as a stepping stone to connect individuals experiencing psychiatric, behavioral, or substance use crises to the proper care. This may include inpatient or outpatient care. As a dedicated place for individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, this facility helps with stabilization. For more information, call 205-263-1701 or visit the Center’s website.

Crisis care center. JBS Mental Health Authority. (2023, September 22). https://jbsmentalhealth.com/crisis-care-center/ 

Wings Across Alabama

Wings Across Alabama is the largest Mental Health Consumer-Ran Organization in Alabama. The organization offers various programming options including:

  • The online Zoom support group is conducted by certified mental health peers with an open sharing format. The group meets every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. For more information about this support group, click here.
  • Wings Across Alabama offers peer support groups at different times throughout the week. These meetings are held online or in-person, depending on the day. For more information, click here.
  • Alabama Warm Line is a number individuals can call 24/7 for non-crisis events. Individuals answering the call on this line are Certified Peer Specialists who support people through mental health challenges, homelessness, suicidal ideations, feeling overwhelmed, substance abuse, and/or loneliness. For more information, call 1-844-999-4647 or visit their website.
  • Art peer support group is offered every 2nd and 4th Friday of each month on Zoom. The individuals that lead the group are peers who have empowered themselves through the arts by utilizing various materials as a form of self-expression and to support their well-being. For more information, click here.
  • Empowered Peers is a Wings Across Alabama program allowing you to share your mental health story in a safe and welcoming space. When an individual shares their story, it can help others feel less isolated. You’re lived experience, coping skills, approach, and narrative may give insight and options others may not have thought about (Wings Across Alabama, 2023). For more information, click here.

Wings Across Alabama . Wings Across Alabama. (2023, April 19). https://wingsacrossal.org/about-us/ 

The 1920 Club

The 1920 Club is one of Alabama’s drop-in centers for people in recovery from mental health conditions. The organization aims to give individuals a safe and supportive environment that promotes personal growth and self-esteem. The 1920 club offers programming including:

  • Peer Support Group is offered for club members every Wednesday from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. is open to adults with a mental health diagnosis.
  • Music Classes are offered every Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. This class is taught by a certified music therapist and is free to all 1920 club members.
  • Art classes are offered to members and taught by local Birmingham artists. Club members have the option to sell their artwork, if they choose, at local art shows within the Birmingham area.

For more information about the 1920 club and their programming call 205-933-6955 or click here.

The 1920 Club – Birmingham, Alabama. 1920 Club. (2020, March 3). https://the1920club.org/ 

Family Guidance Center of Alabama

The Family Guidance Center of Alabama serves different counties in the state. The center offers counseling, parent education, mentoring programs, and therapeutic services for families. The center is located in Tuscaloosa, Talladega, Hayneville, Selma, Opelika, Dothan, Birmingham, and Montgomery. Each location provides a monthly schedule of events and services planned for that specific month. For an updated calendar for your area, click here. Some of their services include:

  • Free counseling services are offered to individuals, couples, and families. Services are available online or in person. For more information, call 205-945-6000.
  • Free parenting classes are offered to individuals and couples interested in learning new parenting skills. For more information, call 205-945-6000 or email lyoung@familyguidancecenter.org. 

Family guidance center. About | Family Guidance Center – Family support, parenting education, counseling services and more for Alabama. (n.d.). https://familyguidancecenter.org/about/ 

Kid One

Kid One’s mission is to provide transportation to medical, dental, and mental health care services for children and expectant mothers. Kid One aims to help families with limited access to transportation services. The organization serves just over half the state by providing access to care in North, Central, and East Alabama. To learn more about the different services and programs offered, click here.

Transporting children to Better Health. Kid One. (n.d.). https://www.kidone.org/