Birmingham—As many as 200 invited guests gathered at 1920 10^th Avenue South in Birmingham on Sunday, April 1, to dedicate the state’s newest drop-in center for persons with mental illness to a long-time Alabama legislator and his wife. "I cannot imagine any family more deserving of this dedication than the Biddles," said DMH/MR Commissioner Kathy Sawyer. Mrs. Sawyer was asked by local advocates to officially dedicate the newly renovated building to Senator Jack Biddle and his wife Nena because of their years of unwavering official and personal support of mental health consumers, their families and the mental health service delivery system as a whole.

"This effort is important for a number of reasons," said Kim Ingram, DMH/MR Associate Commissioner for Mental Illness. "I am so pleased to see the level of local cooperation, coordination and volunteerism that has helped make this dream a reality." The local probate judge, mayor, legislators and members of the Biddle family were there for the official unveiling of the plaque and lettering on the outside of the building. The drop-in center is an oasis of sorts for people with mental illness—"a place to make a friend and be a friend," said Commissioner Sawyer.

Mrs. Rogene Parris, a pioneer in advocacy on behalf of persons with mental illness, serves as the president of The Sharing Place, Inc. board of directors. That board will administer the center where mental health consumers can come voluntarily, eat lunch, learn computer skills and work on arts and crafts. "This is not a treatment facility; it’s a social club," Parris said. It will be operated by its participants with the assistance of a staff member of the Jefferson-Blount-St. Clair Mental Health/Mental Retardation Authority.

The newly opened drop-in center is one of ten around the state. "One of the first things Commissioner Sawyer asked me to do as Associate Commissioner was to find ways to develop consumer-run drop-in centers around the state," said Associate Commissioner Ingram. "Today, I’m pleased to say we have accomplished that mission." Drop-in centers are located in Mobile, Tuscaloosa, the Shoals area, Selma, Auburn, Roanoke, Huntsville, and Athens. "We now have two centers in Birmingham, one in Southside and have just funded one in Eastside," Ingram said.

For further information about consumer-run drop-in centers, contact the DMH/MR Office of Consumer Relations at (334) 242-3456 or Mrs. Parris at (205) 933-6955.