Melvin Mercer is the founder and Executive Director of Adriel Behavioral Institute, a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation, that provides solution-focused and resolution-based services for persons who are experiencing problems in the areas of homelessness, coexisting mental health/chemical dependency disorders, employment and other personal problems.

      A Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP), Substance Abuse Professional (SAP), and Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Melvin has served both the private and public sectors in the area of Alcohol and Drug Abuse programs. He helped develop the concept for the first joint union-company based Employee Support Service Program at the former McDonnell Douglas Air Craft Company (now Boeing) a program designed to provide assistance to employees who are experiencing personal and work related problems.

      Melvin coordinated and designed a substance abuse program for the City of Compton’s Weed and Seed program and provided training to the City’s Supervisors and Management on Department of Transportation’s mandated Alcohol and Drug testing procedures He has also collaborated and consulted with many other community based organizations on some of the most important issues regarding services to the underprivileged.

       Melvin has served as a Board Member for the Southern California Alcohol and Drug Program and the Red Gate Recovery Center. He is also a member of the 100 Blackmen of America Inc. Mentoring Program.

Melvin is married to Cynthia and has five children and five grandchildren

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