CULLMAN, Ala. – Local nonprofit Lotus Health hosted the 2026 Women’s Health Forum on Saturday, Jan. 31, at Cotton Creek. It was a free event “designed to bring together Alabama women, families, health care experts, educators and government leaders for a full day of learning, support and health resources. The goal of this forum is to highlight and expand the availability of women’s health services across the state.”
Some of the speakers included Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry, Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker, Capt. Dr. Edward Porter, Lt. Chad Whaley, Investigator Tim Creel, former Navy SEAL and U.S. Senate candidate Jared Hudson, among others.
Crocker talked about human trafficking cases, as well updates on Aniah’s Law, which allows judges to deny bail to individuals accused of serious, violent crimes.
“When it comes to victims and their bond, we try to let the victims know what they have available to them and to get them help,” Crocker said. “A bond condition is they cannot have direct or indirect contact with the victim. If they are on probation or held on bond in order to keep them away from that victim — that can be done until we can go to court for the safety of the victim.”
Hudson said every community is affected by human trafficking and child exploitation.
“That reality is what led my wife and me to start Covenant Rescue Group,” he said. “As the father of three young girls, nothing hits closer to home than protecting our children — and that is ultimately what led me to run for the United States Senate. I’m not a career politician chasing power or TV cameras. I’m a husband and a father who has risked everything in service to others — overseas as a Navy SEAL, here at home as a deputy and in the shadows stopping traffickers. Now I’m ready to carry that same service on behalf of the people of this great state to the U.S. Senate. With me as your senator, you’ll have a fierce protector who treats your family’s safety the same way I treat my daughters’: non-negotiable.”
Gentry said attendance at the event was good, and he believed the event went well, despite the not-so-good weather.
“I enjoyed being able to speak to the citizens about what we have accomplished over the last 11 years in regard to creating a victim service deputy, the issues with domestic violence and human trafficking,” he explained. “The citizens in attendance were very receptive and appreciative of the hard work of the men and women of the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office. I’m very excited to hear Chad (Whaley)‘s vision that he spoke about in expanding the Victim Service Unit to help victims of crimes across Cullman County.”
Whaley chimed in, saying he was honored to have been a part of the forum hosted by Lotus Health.
“I truly believe that training and communication save lives,” he said. “Domestic violence, mental health crises and human trafficking thrive in silence — but they are confronted through collaboration. When law enforcement, victim services, mental health professionals and the public share information, speak up and work together, awareness turns into action. The more we communicate, the stronger our response, the safer our communities and the more lives we protect.”
Creel said training is a must.
“Dispatchers and responding law enforcement on any call, especially domestic ones, must have training,” he shared. “Not only training with escalation, but also sound tactical training. We can’t help victims if we become a victim at the scene. The participants stayed on topic, for the most part. I talked to several audience members that learned a lot. Some want more of the same, covering different topics.”
Potter gave sobering statistics, saying one in three women and one and seven men are involved in domestic violence.
“It accounts for about 15% of the crime in America,” Potter said. “One of the questions that is often asked: ‘Why don’t they just leave?’ A lot of times the male is the provider for the home, food and welfare of the woman and children. Our community needs more resources for those individuals and families – a place to stay where they can feel secure and safe. Currently there’s not enough shelters for women and children to provide that security and safety. Our community has to come together with the churches, nonprofits and more to hammer out a plan for such shelters for individuals and their children.
He continued, “We currently need to improve on our protection from abuse to extend it to people who are not having a relationship. Currently our protection order only protects those individuals who are having a relationship with their abuser. If a young lady had a stalker that she has never had a relationship with, she could not get a protection order, and this needs to change in the state of Alabama.”
Potter said he thought all the speakers did an excellent job at the forum.
Learn more about Lotus Health at www.lotushealthinc.org.
