Building Bridges in Our Community: Alliance Healthcare Services at Boots on the Ground Resource Fair

Last week, our Alliance Healthcare Services team had the privilege of participating in the Memphis Police Department's "Boots on the Ground" resource fair at the Hickory Hill Community Center. The acronym BOOTS—Bringing Open Opportunities Through Services—perfectly captured the spirit of this community-focused initiative.

Connecting Families to Care

Throughout the day, our team had meaningful conversations with dozens of community members about:

• Crisis services: Information about our 24/7 mobile crisis teams and our new Crisis Wellness Center

• Outpatient mental health services: Counseling, psychiatry, and therapy options for adults, children, and families

• Addiction recovery programs: Including Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and peer support services

• Insurance and payment assistance: Details about our participation in TennCare, Medicare, and private insurance, plus our sliding fee scale

• Specialized programs: Such as OnTrack TN for youth experiencing first-episode psychosis

The Power of Community Partnership

The success of events like Boots on the Ground demonstrates what's possible when community organizations work together. We're grateful to the Memphis Police Department for organizing this initiative and to the Hickory Hill Community Center for hosting. These partnerships allow us to extend our reach beyond our 18 clinic locations and bring behavioral health resources directly into neighborhoods.

This collaborative approach is especially meaningful given our work with the Memphis Police Crisis Intervention Team, where we help divert individuals from the criminal justice system into appropriate mental health treatment. Events like this help build the community relationships that make such partnerships successful.

Breaking Down Barriers to Mental Health Care

One of the most rewarding aspects of community outreach is the opportunity to address misconceptions and reduce stigma around mental health treatment. Many families we spoke with had questions about:

• What therapy actually involves and how it can help

• Whether mental health services are covered by their insurance

• How to access crisis support when needed

• What resources are available for children and adolescents

• How to support a family member struggling with mental health or addiction

By providing clear, accessible information in a comfortable community setting, we can help break down the barriers that sometimes prevent people from seeking the care they need.

Looking Forward: Continued Community Engagement

As we serve more than 22,000 residents of Shelby County and surrounding areas annually, events like Boots on the Ground remind us that our work extends far beyond our clinic walls. They reinforce our commitment to being not just a healthcare provider, but a true community partner.

We're already looking forward to future opportunities to connect with residents in high-need areas throughout Memphis. Whether through resource fairs, career fairs, community presentations, or partnerships with local organizations, we remain dedicated to ensuring that every Memphis family knows that comprehensive, compassionate behavioral health care is available and accessible.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you missed us at the Hickory Hill event, remember that our doors are always open. Whether you're dealing with a mental health crisis, seeking ongoing therapy, or looking for addiction recovery support, our team is here to help.

To connect with Alliance Healthcare Services:

• Call us: 901-369-1410

• Visit our website: alliance-hs.org

• Crisis support: Available 24/7

• Walk-in services: Available at our Crisis Wellness Center

Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. At Alliance Healthcare Services, we believe in building wellness in our community—one person, one family, and one neighborhood at a time.