The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) announced $21 million in available funding for essential programs to enhance mental health crisis services in Florida’s communities and the Recruit and Maintain Behavioral Health Professionals grant program through select managing entities.
“We understand the importance of supporting the well-being for all of Florida’s families, and it is critical that we continue to devote funding not only towards programming, but also in the workforce who delivers these critical services,” said Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris.
Funding will be allocated for crisis services and supports that help to address specific community needs deploying a three-pronged approach focused on prevention, intervention, and recovery. The services provided include immediate triage, assessment, care coordination/case management, and crisis intervention for individuals with behavioral health challenges.
Possibly the two central receiving facilities for Baker Act patients that Baptist, Lakeview and HCA Florida West have discussed would receive dollars from this fund.
In addition, through the grant opportunity, funding will support increased recruitment and retention efforts for behavioral health professionals; professional development opportunities for the existing workforce that allow for upward mobility, and the development of innovative workforce initiatives. The grants are aimed at professionals in social work and psychology, as well as marriage and family therapists, mental health therapists, psychiatrists and certified peer specialists.
The grant will be implemented through Northwest Florida Health Network, Southeast Florida Behavioral Network, and Central Florida Behavioral Health Network Managing Entities. Providers in their service areas can apply. The grants will be awarded based on the development of sustainable strategies, plans, and actions to address the workforce challenges in the behavioral health labor force.
Though we have yet to receive the list of donors to Rep. Michelle Salzman’s mental health task force, we’ve heard that Northwest Florida Health Network made a significant contribution.
Let’s hope the Ernst & Young report – which the mental health task force has paid for – will fast-track funds for local mental health programs.