Our Impact
Serving Butler, Covington, Crenshaw and Coffee counties — the M-18 Catchment Area — with mental health, crisis, and developmental services.
Counties Served
South Central Alabama Mental Health Board, Inc. serves Butler, Covington, Crenshaw and Coffee counties, known as the M-18 Catchment Area. All counties in our service area are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for 2024.
Population by Demographic in Alabama
| Butler | Coffee | Covington | Crenshaw | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 8,928 (47.0%) | 26,626 (49.7%) | 18,243 (48.6%) | 6,451 (48.9%) | 2,471,801 (48.4%) |
| Female | 10,053 (53.0%) | 26,933 (50.3%) | 19,299 (51.4%) | 6,751 (51.1%) | 2,636,667 (51.6%) |
| Under 5 | 1,054 (5.6%) | 3,168 (5.9%) | 2,147 (5.7%) | 708 (5.4%) | 144,710 (2.8%) |
| Under 18 | 4,234 (22.3%) | 12,670 (23.7%) | 8,227 (21.9%) | 3,020 (22.9%) | 558,240 (10.9%) |
| 65 and Older | 4,021 (21.2%) | 9,165 (17.1%) | 8,165 (21.7%) | 2,611 (19.8%) | 519,429 (10.2%) |
| Veteran Status | 1,034 (7.0%) | 6,183 (15.7%) | 2,514 (8.6%) | 519 (5.1%) | 299,495 (7.6%) |
Note: Sources: U.S. Census Bureau. (2022). Sex by Age by Veteran Status for the Civilian Population 18 Years and Over. American Community Survey, ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables, Table B21001. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
Key Demographic Insights
Populations by Age
The proportion of children under 18 and older adults aged 65+ across the service area is approximately double the state average.
Veteran Status
Coffee County stands out with a veteran population of 15.7% — the highest in the state — likely influenced by proximity to Fort Novosel.
Population by Race in Alabama
| Butler | Coffee | Covington | Crenshaw | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 19,051 | 53,465 | 37,570 | 13,194 | 5,024,279 |
| White | 9,679 (50.8%) | 35,759 (66.9%) | 30,657 (81.6%) | 9,333 (70.7%) | 3,171,351 (63.1%) |
| Black | 8,389 (44.0%) | 8,643 (16.2%) | 4,563 (12.1%) | 3,085 (23.4%) | 1,288,159 (25.6%) |
| Latino | 260 (1.4%) | 4,887 (9.1%) | 654 (1.7%) | 187 (1.4%) | 264,047 (5.3%) |
| Other | 217 (1.1%) | 1,549 (2.9%) | 451 (1.2%) | 160 (1.2%) | 116,104 (2.3%) |
Note: Sources: U.S. Census Bureau. (2020). Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race. Decennial Census, DEC 118th Congressional District Summary File, Table P9. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
Key Race & Ethnicity Insights
Butler County
Butler County has a significantly higher proportion of Black residents (44.0%) compared to the state average of 25.6%.
Coffee County
Coffee County has a notably higher Latino population at 9.1% — nearly double the state average of 5.3% and five times higher than other counties in the catchment area.
Covington County
Covington County has a much larger percentage of White residents (81.6%) compared to the state average of 63.1%.
Median Household Income and Poverty Level
| Butler | Coffee | Covington | Crenshaw | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty Wage* | $31,200 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $31,200 |
| Median Household Income | $44,429 | $62,199 | $48,772 | $48,557 |
| Living Wage* | $92,602 | $90,563 | $90,189 | $91,021 |
| Below Poverty (Total) | 3,430 (18.2%) | 8,340 (15.9%) | 6,641 (18.0%) | 1,711 (13.1%) |
| Below Poverty (White) | 933 (9.7%) | 4,289 (11.1%) | 5,218 (16.8%) | 901 (9.8%) |
| Below Poverty (Black) | 2,317 (27.1%) | 2,796 (31.8%) | 1,135 (25.9%) | 670 (20.7%) |
| Below Poverty (Latino) | — | 1,495 (35.1%) | 247 (35.6%) | — |
| Uninsured Rate (19–64 yrs) | 1,838 (17.6%) | 4,969 (17.0%) | 3,180 (15.6%) | 910 (12.4%) |
Note: *Wage calculation based on two working adults with two children in the household. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2021), Table B17001; U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2022), Table S2701; MIT Living Wage Calculator (2024).
Key Economic Insights
Median Household Incomes
Butler County has the lowest median household income at $44,429, significantly below Coffee County ($62,199). Both Butler and Covington counties have 18%+ of their populations living below the poverty level.
Racial Disparities in Poverty
Black residents face disproportionately high poverty rates across all counties: 27.1% in Butler, 31.8% in Coffee, 25.9% in Covington, and 20.7% in Crenshaw — far exceeding rates for White residents. Latino residents in Coffee and Covington counties face poverty rates of 35.1% and 35.6% respectively.
Uninsured Rates
Butler and Coffee counties have uninsured rates around 17% among adults aged 19–64, higher than other counties in the service area.
Population Served
Populations served by South Central Alabama Mental Health include:
Seriously Mentally Ill Adults (SMI)
Adults living with serious mental illness — our largest population served.
Severely Emotionally Disturbed Children & Adolescents (SED)
Children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbances.
Developmentally/Intellectually Disabled Adults (DD/ID)
Adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities.
Adults with Substance Use Disorders (SU)
Adults struggling with substance use and addiction.
Justice-Involved Individuals
Individuals who are involved with the criminal justice system.
FY 2024 Program Breakdown — 3,740 Unique Consumers
Population Served by Demographic in FY 2024
| Butler | Coffee | Covington | Crenshaw | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 540 (14.4%) | 1,165 (31.1%) | 1,285 (34.4%) | 396 (10.6%) | 354 (9.5%) |
| Male | 279 (51.7%) | 538 (46.2%) | 583 (45.4%) | 198 (50.0%) | 216 (61.0%) |
| Female | 261 (48.3%) | 627 (53.8%) | 702 (54.6%) | 198 (50.0%) | 138 (39.8%) |
| Under 18 | 150 (27.8%) | 231 (19.8%) | 249 (19.4%) | 98 (24.7%) | 35 (9.9%) |
| 65 and Older | 42 (7.8%) | 120 (10.3%) | 91 (7.1%) | 28 (7.1%) | 12 (3.4%) |
| Veteran Status | 12 (2.2%) | 56 (4.8%) | 49 (3.8%) | 5 (1.3%) | 15 (4.2%) |
Note: Source: SCAMHB Electronic Health Record
FY 2024 Consumer Summary
In FY 2024, SCAMHB served 1,814 male consumers (48.5%) and 1,926 female consumers (51.5%).
Among all consumers, 763 were under the age of 18 (20.4%) and 293 were aged 65 and older (7.8%).
SCAMHB served 137 consumers who identified as veterans, representing 3.7% of the total consumer base.
Population Served by Race in FY 2024
| Butler | Coffee | Covington | Crenshaw | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 540 | 1,165 | 1,285 | 396 | 354 |
| White | 237 (43.9%) | 748 (64.2%) | 992 (77.2%) | 262 (66.2%) | 214 (60.5%) |
| Black | 287 (53.1%) | 303 (26.0%) | 232 (18.1%) | 111 (28.0%) | 118 (33.3%) |
| Latino | 8 (1.5%) | 80 (6.9%) | 27 (2.1%) | 4 (1.0%) | 15 (4.2%) |
| Other | 16 (3.0%) | 114 (9.8%) | 61 (4.7%) | 23 (5.8%) | 22 (6.2%) |
Note: Source: SCAMHB Electronic Health Record
Race Breakdown Summary
In FY 2024, SCAMHB served 2,453 White consumers (65.6%), 1,051 Black consumers (28.1%), 134 Latino consumers (3.6%), and 236 consumers from other races (6.3%).
Population Served by Poverty Level in FY 2024
| Butler | Coffee | Covington | Crenshaw | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty Wage* | $31,200 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $31,200 |
| Below Poverty (Total) | 429 (79.4%) | 851 (73.0%) | 894 (69.6%) | 287 (72.5%) | 183 (51.7%) |
| Below Poverty (White) | 176 (74.3%) | 533 (71.3%) | 675 (68.0%) | 184 (70.2%) | 111 (51.9%) |
| Below Poverty (Black) | 241 (84.0%) | 238 (78.5%) | 174 (75.0%) | 89 (80.2%) | 62 (52.5%) |
| Below Poverty (Latino) | 6 (75.0%) | 59 (73.8%) | 20 (74.1%) | 3 (75.0%) | 9 (60.0%) |
| Self-Pay Rate | 331 (61.3%) | 696 (59.7%) | 700 (54.5%) | 220 (55.6%) | 139 (39.3%) |
Note: *Wage calculation based on two working adults with two children in the household. "Other" is based on the federal poverty levels. Source: SCAMHB Electronic Health Record
Poverty Level Summary
2,644 Below Poverty Level
70.7% of all consumers served in FY 2024 had an income below the poverty level — underscoring our commitment to serving those with greatest financial need.
Racial Disparities in Poverty
68.4% of White consumers served (1,679) were below the poverty level. 76.5% of Black consumers served (804) were below the poverty level. 72.4% of Latino consumers served (97) were below the poverty level.
2,086 Self-Pay Consumers
55.8% of total consumers self-pay, reflecting the financial barriers many individuals face in accessing care.
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