ADMH is pleased to announce that the Wallace State Community College, FORMLL and the City of Hanceville were chosen as the joint winners of the 4^th annual Celebrate Recovery Challenge!

The groups’ "Stop Stepping Over Our Dead Bodies and Step Up for Recovery" was chosen by mental health stakeholders and the general public as best embodying the purpose of Recovery Month by increasing awareness and decreasing stigma. Read the winning submission- Stop Stepping Over Our Dead Bodies and Step Up for Recovery

Over 10,000 votes were cast in the 4^th annual challenge. ADMH would like to thank the other organizations who also entered a submission:

• Coastal Alabama coordinated a Road to Recovery 3K/5K Run-Walk in Loxley
• Covington County Children’s Policy Council hosted two Lessons from Lutz events in Covington County
• St. Anne's Home coordinated a Proclamation and a Recovery Walk in Birmingham
• West Alabama Recovery Coalition hosted a Sober Tailgate in Tuscaloosa

Also - Thank You to everyone who voted for making the 4^th annual Celebrate Recovery Challenge another success!

The Celebrate Recovery Challenge was hosted by ADMH as another component of Alabama’s celebration of National Recovery Month, held annually during the month of September. Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Recovery Month seeks to promote the societal benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery from mental illnesses and substance use disorders. Raising awareness is a crucial component of Recovery Month, and organizations throughout Alabama have traditionally hosted events statewide to celebrate the observance and help promote its message.

The winners will be highlighted on the ADMH website for the next year. Representatives from the winning organizations will also receive a Certificate of Recognition from Governor Robert Bentley and have a commemorative picture taken with the governor, ADMH Commissioner James Perdue, and Associate Commissioner for the Division of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services Dr. Beverly Bell-Shambley.