RESOURCES
At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham, we are committed to the health, safety, and mental well-being of all children in our program. Explore all the different resources available here.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND TUTORING
From early learning to college preparation, Tutoring Club provides the resources and opportunity for every student to become a confident, self-motivated learner for life.
205-981-7155
James Bondurant is an Alabama high school and middle school mathematics teacher with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a Master's degree in Education. He has been tutoring since college and offers courses in elementary, middle, and, high school math as well as ACT prep, both in person and online.
205-451-5049
TRIO Educational Opportunity Center
The Educational Opportunity Center at UAB provides counseling and information on college admissions to qualified adults who want to enter or continue a program of postsecondary education. The program also provides services to improve the financial and economic literacy of participants. An important objective of the program is to counsel participants on financial aid options, including basic financial planning skills, and to assist in the application process. The goal of the EOC program is to increase the number of adult participants who enroll in postsecondary education institutions. All services are provided free of charge to participants who meet the eligibility requirements. TRIO can assist with:
- Guidance on passing the GED
- Assistance with the college, trade/vocational school admissions process
- Test preparation workshops
- Assistance with completing the FAFSA
- Career exploration and goal setting
- Tutoring and Mentoring
- Personal counseling (Success Coaches)
- Scholarship information
- Referrals to public assistance and other community resources
- Loan Default Counseling
- Limited fee payment assistance for GED
(205) 975-3793
Anxiety, Depression, and Mental Health
Birmingham Family Counseling and Mediation Center
BFCMC is an in-home and outpatient counseling center for children and their families, as well as adult individuals and/or couples. Therapy services are provided by counselors, social workers, and other staff who provide diagnostic evaluations, treatment planning, treatment interventions, and follow-up.
205-447-0585
Noah's Ark Child and Family Treatment Center
The mission of Noah’s Ark Child and Family Treatment Center is to help children and adults with the presence of a psychiatric diagnosis "build responsible and effective relationships between families and communities one day at a time." They help relieve unhappiness and suffering by providing educational, social, and emotional support through a variety of crisis prevention and intervention services through delivering quality outpatient services. Crisis Intervention and intervention services provide immediate emergency Interventions with the consumer; this service is designed to resolve the crisis and develop symptomatic relief and increases knowledge of where to turn for help at a time of further difficulty and facilitate return to pre-crisis routine functioning.
205-502-7278
JBS provides individualized mental health services to children, youth, and adults in a manner that encourages resilience and wellness. Their goal is for each person to live a meaningful and productive life through education, treatment, and support.
205-595-4555
The Crisis Center's mission is to serve the unmet needs of people experiencing a personal crisis or mental health issues and respond with services that promote coping, emotional health, and well-being. Their primary service area is Central Alabama, which is defined as the six-county area surrounding Birmingham. This includes Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby, and Walker Counties.
205-323-7777
Links 2 Learning Consulting, LLC.
The Links 2 Learning professional team has over 50 plus years of experience consisting of licensed psychologists, educational specialists, special education professionals, speech-language pathologists, and a Behavior Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Experiences range from clinical diagnostic evaluations (e.g., including childhood psychopathology to developmental disabilities), behavioral intervention, autism spectrum disorders, teacher training, parent training, etc.
Psychiatric Intake Response Center
The Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC), located in the Emergency Department at Children’s of Alabama, is a free, confidential phone response center designed to help adult callers and community providers in finding the appropriate level of mental health care. These services are provided via telephone by licensed mental health clinicians trained to assess a child or teen’s mental, emotional, and behavioral needs and recommend the best treatment options. Any adult with a mental health question or concern regarding a child or adolescent is encouraged to contact the PIRC at 205-638-PIRC (7472). The PIRC is open seven days a week, year-round from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m
Basic Needs
Bridge Ministries assists in paying rent or utility bills for those in need. They also help individuals obtain dental care, eyeglasses, prescription goods and other medical needs and offer a small pantry of non-perishable food items and personal hygiene products.
205-930-0309
The Catholic Center of Concern offers assistance with clothing, food, and utilities. (Please note that a referral from a church or agency is required for utility assistance.)
205-786-4388
Childcare Resources is a Birmingham, AlAlabama-basedon-profit organization whose mission is to make quality care and education of children happen by providing information, education, and assistance to families, providers of child care, and the community. Services provided by Childcare Resources include financial assistance for low-to-moderate income working families, quality training and technical assistance for childcare providers (including a free Early Learning Resource Library, mobile Resource Library Van, and Early Learning Demonstration Classroom), research-based parent education resources, assistance to hundreds of families in our community seeking quality child care options for their young children.
205-945-0018
The Dannon Project offers a rapid rehousing program as well as a program that helps pay security deposits, utility bills, moving expenses, and rent checks to avoid eviction. They are also committed to helping previously incarcerated individuals find employment and housing.
205-202-4072
Oak Mountain Mission Ministries
Oak Mountain Mission Ministries assist clients in obtaining food, clothing, furniture, household items, and other basic necessities (such as school supplies, diapers, wipes, and car seats) based on availability. They also provide limited financial assistance to clients on a case-by-case basis. (Please note that a referral from a church. approved agency or Shelby County school counselor is required for assistance.)
205-685-5757
The YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. They offer low-cost rental housing and low-cost daycare to clients as well as domestic violence services, counseling, and legal services.
205-322-9922
Child Safety
Alabama Department of Child Abuse Neglect and Prevention
The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention secures resources to fund evidence-based community programs committed to the prevention of child maltreatment. They advocate for children and the strengthening of families.
334-262-2951
BBBSA Parent Resource Guide for Substance Misuse Prevention
How to report child abuse and neglect
Child Welfare Information Gateway: Understanding Effects of Maltreatment on Brain Development
Healthy Relationships for Teens workbook from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Health and Nutrition
Jefferson County Health Department
Provides health and dental services at income-based cost.
205-591-5180
Resources for and education about healthy eating sponsored by the USDA
Child nutrition information from Children's of Alabama
Birmingham Healthy Start Plus is a federally funded program designed to provide maternal child health support services to pregnant women and their children or women of childbearing age who live in the Healthy Start communities (Greater Birmingham, Bessemer, and Fairfield). Their purpose is to help increase a mother’s chance of having a healthy baby and to encourage the involvement of fathers and fathers-to-be in the lives of their babies. Healthy Start offers parenting classes, prepared childbirth classes, comprehensive home visits, screenings, referrals, and assistance with program applications.
205-324-4133
LGBTQ+
PFLAG provides peer-to-peer support, publications, toolkits, and other resources to make sure that the family members of people who are LGBTQ get the support they need in the way that best serves their needs. This allows families to then further support, affirm and advocate on behalf of their LGBTQ loved ones.
The Magic City Acceptance Center (MCAC) is dedicated to providing a brave and radically inclusive space for the LGBTQ community in Alabama. They offer both in-person and virtual programming for LGBTQ individuals of all ages across the state.
The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth 24/7, 365. Youth can call, chat or text with a trained counselor for support regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, and mental health.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is dedicated to preventing suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. A public health organization, AFSP believes that it is all of our individual and collective responsibility to support the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ people. They offer crisis counseling by text or phone and offer support to those who have lost someone to suicide. They work to educate the public about warning signs of suicide and prevention as well as raising funds for research. They are a national organization but have a chapter located in Birmingham.
205-778-8284
Resources for Bigs
Substance Abuse Prevention
Addiction Prevention Coalition
The Addiction Prevention Coalition (APC) is a non-profit community resource that aims to eliminate addiction in Central Alabama. Originally named The Freedom Source, APC has been providing support for the greater Birmingham area for over a decade. Through in-school prevention programs, educational events, and a collection of support services, APC aims to be a convener of organizations united to prevent addiction and relapse.
205-874-8498
Addiction Prevention Coalition Alcohol Guide for Families
Addiction Prevention Coalition Parent Packet
SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Resources
Opioid and Other Drug Prevention Guide for Mentors
This is a free nationwide web resource that provides information about addiction as well as mental health issues and eating disorders.
SUICIDE PREVENTION
Gateway is an Alabama-based agency that offers family counseling, financial counseling, and foster care, all based on the latest knowledge of trauma, child brain development, and behavioral healthcare.
205-510-2755
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention education resources
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention "Talk Saves Lives" informational brochure