Reviewed by: Grace Howard
Local mental health + recovery residential facility approved by state
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Shelby County will soon have its first Certificate of Need (CON)-approved, inpatient facility for people looking for residential recovery. Longleaf Lodge recently received state authorization to establish care for those looking for high-intensity treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues. The 150-acre facility is projected to open early next year in rural Shelby county near the community of Sterrett, about a 45-minute drive from downtown Birmingham.
As the second inpatient facility of its kind in the state, it will help expand treatment options for those looking for more specialized care and offers a dual-diagnosis method that helps approach mental health and substance abuse in tandem.
What it means to be CON-approved in Alabama
In order to receive Certificate of Need designation from the Alabama State Health and Planning Development Agency, facilities must undergo a rigorous review process to approve bed allotment, a period that can take up to two years.
“This is a meaningful step forward for access to quality addiction treatment in Alabama. Receiving our Certificate of Need allows us to officially bring residential care to a level that matches the real clinical needs we see every day.
We chose this location intentionally because it offers the space and setting required for residential treatment while remaining closely connected to Birmingham and the communities we already serve. Longleaf Lodge reflects our commitment to high quality, evidence based care and to building a full continuum of services for individuals and families across the region.”
Colin Harris, Chief Executive Officer of Longleaf Recovery & Wellness
Why inpatient treatment care in the Birmingham area matters
Inpatient care can benefit those who need medical assistance for recovery, provide more structure or personal attention and often proves helpful to integrate daily routine or lifestyle modifications in a residential setting.
With its proximity to the larger Birmingham metro area, Longleaf Lodge will mean easier access for clients’ families and loved ones in a more familiar and comfortable environment. Longleaf Recovery currently operates outpatient centers across the state (find locations here), but the Lodge will mark a new chapter for the Birmingham-born company.
To find out more about what this new, 150-acre facility will offer, visit LongleafCenters.com.
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