By 
December 16, 2025
Addressing mental health challenges takes courage, support and access to consistent care. For many in our community, that journey begins with WellStone, north Alabama’s largest nonprofit behavioral healthcare provider. But for some clients, simply getting to and from an appointment can be a significant obstacle.
Thanks to a longtime partnership with the City of Huntsville, that barrier is easier to overcome.
Quisha Bryant, Director of Huntsville Parking & Public Transportation, said the WellStone transit program reflects the City’s commitment to accessibility and community wellness and removes one of the most persistent barriers to care.
“Reliable transportation is often the bridge between someone needing help and getting help,” Bryant said. “By working with WellStone, we’re helping more people get to the care and support they deserve, safely and with dignity.”
The City’s connection to WellStone goes back decades. Huntsville’s paratransit service –originally called “Handi-Ride” – began serving clients of the former Mental Health Center as early as the 1990s. Marie Stephan, Transit Operations Supervisor, recalls transporting clients in 1994 when the center was located downtown. The Mental Health Center later moved to its current South Memorial Parkway location and rebranded as WellStone in 2014.
Today, that partnership provides up to 10,000 rides each year to and from WellStone’s Adult Day Treatment Facility. Clients use either Orbit fixed-route buses or Access, the City’s paratransit service for individuals with disabilities. WellStone requests transportation 24 hours in advance and clients receive a customized ticket for their trip. Transit rides cover both travel to and from appointments.
“We’re so grateful to be in a community that prioritizes mental health,” said Jeremy Blair, WellStone CEO. “By providing transportation vouchers, these individuals can much more easily access the compassionate care they need and deserve. The city isn’t just driving them to and from their WellStone appointments. In some cases, it’s connecting them to a lifeline.”
Blair said the partnership with the City of Huntsville makes a world of difference for their Day Treatment clients who attend this structured program multiple days per week.
“We’re thankful for a city that remains steadfast in its support of WellStone as we work together to connect our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and even strangers to health and well-being,” Blair said.
Ridership has remained consistently strong over the years. WellStone uses its full 10,000-ride allocation annually, a level that has held steady since recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. To support this ongoing need, Huntsville Transit designates three Access operators specifically for the WellStone service. Kenny Anderson currently serves as the primary operator.
“Kenny is known for his compassion and connection with clients and senior operators Diane Matthews and Tasha Hawkins provide support as needed,” said John Autry, Huntsville Transit manager.
In addition to WellStone, Access Paratransit also supports other community programs. The service transports clients to Studio 60’s Adult Day Health program each weekday and provides a Friday evening shopping shuttle for University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) students living on campus.
Crisis care and ongoing treatment are vital pieces of a healthy community. When people are struggling, they need a safe place to turn – and a way to get there. For many Huntsville residents, this partnership makes that possible.
