Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center (NWAMHC) named Rodney Battles as the organization's new Executive Director in May 2021. An experienced leader in the mental health field, Battles succeeds Patty Poe, a NWAMHC board member who has served as interim Executive Director since November 2020.

“The board has reaffirmed the mission of the organization to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve. Consistent with this, we have identified a new leader for our organization who will help us embrace our commitment to the people we serve and create an impact in our community,” Poe says. 

A passionate executive for making a difference and creating community impact, Battles has 31 years of diversified experience in healthcare, behavioral/substance use disorders in adults and adolescents, supportive housing, developmental disabilities, supported employment, and community mental health programs.

Prior to assuming the Executive Director position with NWAMHC, Battles served as the Transitional CEO for Tykes & Teens in Palm City, Florida. Since 1996, Tykes & Teens has been a leading provider of high quality, evidence-based mental health services and programs for children and adolescents. In this role, Battles successfully developed strategies to help further the organization’s mission and sustainability. In all of his previous positions, Battles had documented success in evidence-based programs, accreditation management, grant development and creative fundraising, all of which are beneficial to his new role with NWAMHC.

“What I have found here [at NWAMHC] is a group of people truly committed to their community and that want to make a difference, and we want to expand that group. We’re going to create a greater connection with the community and create a level of transparency that we’ve never had before,” says Battles. “We will ensure that our clients feel that they are important, and a valuable part of our community.”

Battles received his Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration from The University of Alabama and his MBA from Georgia Southern University’s Parker College of Business. He was awarded Businessman of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce in Grant County, Kentucky and has been recognized by Behavioral Healthcare Management Magazine for his outstanding leadership skills.

About Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center:

The Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center (NWAMHC) is a public non-profit corporation that is governed by a board of directors from Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker and Winston Counties. NWAMHC prides itself in the quality of services provided and a well-developed continuum of care. There is a heavy emphasis on services to children, families, and geriatric age groups as well as the seriously mentally ill, those with intellectual disabilities and those suffering from chemical dependency.