Mental Health Report coming Friday

State Rep. Michelle Salzman announced that Ernst & Young will deliver its action plan ” defining an ideal end state for the continuity of support and closure of gaps within the mental wellness and behavioral health system in our area” to the Mental Health Task Force of Northwest Florida at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 19, at Marcus Point Baptist Church.

Why this matters: Mental health is a huge issue – locally, statewide and nationally.  Gaps in treatment and disparities in access exist in Northwest Florida.

What’s Happening: Rep. Salzman announced the task force in August 2021 with Quint Studer as her co-chair and a who’s who of state and community leaders as members. However, few facts have been shared with the public.

Inweekly requested from the lawmaker Ernst & Young’s contract and information on who has paid for it. Salzman dodged the request and sent us to the House Office of Open Government, where we’ve been waiting for a reply since March 24.

Ernst & Young met with the task force members in private in February. The media was not made aware of the meeting. Read more.

In January, the State Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse released a 35-page report in January that cited inadequate integrated services, providers and systems “leaving enormous gaps in treatment and disparities in access.” FYI: The state commission holds its meetings in public. Read more.

The website, mentalhealthtaskforce.org, hasn’t been updated in over a year. There are no minutes of its quarterly meetings available on the site.

Who is on the Mental Health Task Force of Northwest Florida is vague. The task force’s website has a long list of names, but how many are truly members?

Name Position/Organization
Salzman Michelle Representative, Florida House District 1
Payne Barbara Scott chief of staff, studer family of companies
Studer Quint Founder, Studer Community Institute
Acuff Rob Director of Student Care, Pensacola Christian College (counseling services)
Anderson Niels President & CEO, VetCV
Anzaldo Lauren Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Gulf Coast Veterans Healthcare System (US VA)
Arkin Melissa Regional VP, Behavioral Health Svcs, HCA Healthcare (all Florida)
Arny Jeff Mental Health, Century Correctional Institution
Arrington Walter Homeless Health Navigator, Community Health Northwest Florida
Barlow Brian Associate Pastor, Hillcrest Baptist Church
Beck Jacqueline Executive Director, Behavioral Health, HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin
Bell Jodi Regional Sales Director, Pensacola News Journal
Bellar David Dean, Usha Kundu College of Health
Bergosh Jeff Escambia County Commission
Bergosh Sally Director, Health & Hope Clinic
Bergosh Gary Judge, First Judicial Circuit
Bookman Connie Pathways for Change
Boyd Elizabeth Director, Governmental Relations Sunshine Health
Branch Rusty Innisfree Hotels
Bullaro Gabe CEO, HCA Florida West
Burns Rachelle Chair, Escarosa Suicide Prevention Coalition
Bush Jake Nursing Faculty, UWF
Cadena Cyd VP Behavioral Health, Baptist Hospital
Cannon Lindsey Children’s Home Society
Castagna Matthew Mental Health Treatment Coordinator, First District Court
Clinton Kirstie Florida Hospital Association (collegue of David Mica)
Condon Will President, Studer Family Children’s Hospital
Cook Courtney Behavioral Health Case Manager, Simply Healthcare Plans
Croley Rachel Clinical Director, Olive Baptist Church Counseling Center
Dalton Craig Health Information Exchange
Dickey Darlene Judge, First Judicial Circuit
Dobson R. Matthew Administrator/Health Officer, Florida Department of Health of Santa Rosa County
Doidge Kendrick Vice President Business Development and Marketing, HCA Florida West Hospital
Doughty Katie Regional Director for Senator Scott
Dunlap David Century Correctional Institution
Durkin Jillian Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department
Ellis Amy CEO The healing impact
Ellis Maria Director of Nursing – Behavioral Health, HCA Florida West Hospital
Faulkner Mark CEO Baptist Hospital
Fina Silvio LMHC, Coordinator, Mental Health Services, ECSD
Finklestein Linda President of NAMI Pensacola
Forte Fletcher Deputy Circuit Administrator, Circuit 1 Probation & Parole, Florida Department of Corrections
Frydrychowicz Judge JJ Judge, First Judicial Circuit
Gaither Julie Circuit Administrator, Circuit 1 Probation & Parole, FL Dept. Corrections
Garrison Donna United States Probation and Pretrial Services Northern Disctrict of Florida
Gilley Janice Chief Legislative Assistant, Senator Doug Broxson
Gilliam Laura CEO, United Way of West Florida
Godbehere John Navy Base Executive Officer, CDR
Gowan Matthew PIO for VA, VISN 16 (he will likely get someone Cliincal Admin to attend)
Greer Tammy Escambia County Children’s Trust
Grove Jennifer Baptist Hospital
Hazlip Rick Pastor, First City Church
Hill Allison CEO Lakeview
Hindsman Craig Connections Pastor, Marcus Pointe Baptist Church
Hosman Ildi Director of Public Relations & Internal Communications, Landrum HR
Jogerst BD Government Affairs, Sunshine Health
Johnson John Executive Director, Opening Doors
Josephs David Clinical Director & Chief Psychologist, Lakeview Center
Joyner Lisa Coordinator, Student Services, ECSD
Kariher Jules Chief Advocacy Officer, Ascension Florida
Keiek Serene Opening Doors
Kohn Rick VP of Government Markets, Florida Blue
Kostevicki Stacey Executive Director, Gulf Coast Kids House
Kreuser Savanna Administrative Assistant, Mental Health Wellness Unit, ECSO
LaFevers Sara Community and Government Relations, Baptist Hospital
Lagarde Kaycee PIO for City of Pensacola
Landrum Britt CEO Landrum HR
Lands Jon Executive Vice President, Pensacola Christian College
Listau Lynsey Executive Director, Institutional Equity & Student Conduct , Pensacola State College
Martin Mike Director of 211, United Way of West Florida
Maygarden Adrienne Sacred Heart Women’s & Children’s Service Line Director
McQueen Douglas (Rush) Clinical Dir, Readjustment Counseling Service, US Dept Vet. Affairs
Meadows Ed President, Pensacola State College
Mica David Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, Florida Hospital Association
Milkeris Lori UWF Director/Veterans Counselor Military and Veterans Resource Center
Moreno Wes County Administrator for Escambia County BOCC
Mott Marie Florida Dept of Health, Escambia County
Mullenix Brad Assistant to the President, Legislative Affiars, Pensacola Christian College
Murzin Dave
Nelson Gene Emergency Department Director, Santa Rosa Medical Center
Nutt Andrea Department Head, Behavioral Health and Wellness Department, Community Health Northwest Florida
Patton Allison Pensacola City Council
Patterson Kayshala Chief Probation Officer, Escambia County, FL Dep Juv Just
Pace Kimberly Public Health Service Manager, Florida Dept of Health, Santa Rosa County
Polk Kelly LMHC, Coordinator, Mental Health Services, Quality Management, Acess Behavioral Health (a division of Lakeview)
Potomski Hong Sr. Director, Commercial Segment Strategy & Group Go To Market, Florida Blue
Rafferty Troy Partner, LPR Law Firm
Randall Eric Pensacola Chief of Police
Reddy Howard UWF Foundation
Reeves DC mayor, city of Pensacola
Rivera Ronnie ECSO Community Relations
Robinson Jeffrey Assistant Warden, Santa Rosa Correctional Institution
Rudolph Dawn CEO Sacred Heart
Rutledge Eric Executive Director of Behavioral Health Inpatient Services, Baptist Hospital
Salamida Shawn President, Lakeview Behavioral Health Services
Saunders Martha President, University of West Florida
Scholl John Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department
Shashaty Terrence CO, Naval Air Station Pensacola
Sluder Dusti Dean of Health Sciences, Pensacola State College
Smiley Chandra Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director of Community Health Northwest Florida
Smith Tim Superintendent, Escambia County School District
Sohr Paul Program Director, Gateway Foundation (Santa Rosa Correctional Inst.)
Stavros Mark Medical Director, Emergency Department, HCA Florida West
Tappan Alicia Director, the Secret Place
Thomson Todd Greater Pensacola Chamber
Torsell Dave EMS Chief, escambia county public safety
Van Der Like Jill UWF Nursing Program
Vanderpool Patricia EAP provider to City of Pensacola
Wallace-Jordan Sabrina Asst Chief Probation Officer, Escambia County, FL Dep Juv Justice
Walls Donna Resource Management Director, Santa Rosa Medical Center
Watkins Mike NWF Health Network
Watkins Kelly Warden, Century Correctional Institution
White Cathy Director of Case Management, First Circuit Judicial Court
Whitlock Corinne Director of Quality Management and Improvement, Access Behavioral Health
Williams Chris Special Agent in Charge, FDLE Pensacola Regional Operations Center
Wright Colton Santa Rosa County Commissioner
Wright Robin Trial Court Adminstrator, First Judicial Circuit
Wright William “Bill” NW FL Director, Share Your Heart (DCF Faith Based Partnership)
Wyer Brian Minority Chamber
Young Mindy ECSO, Crisis Intervention Team Coordinator
Hartsell James Executive Director, Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
Zander Lindsey Director, AHCA Legislative Affairs Office
Martiller Simone Secretary AHCA
Wallace Tom Deputy Secretary, Divison of Medicaid, AHCA
Steele Patrick Deputy Legislative Affairs Director, AHCA
Wallace Shavon Secretary, Department of Children and Families
Allman Heather Policy Unit Manager, Dept. of Children & Families
Hardin Bill Assistant Secretary for Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Floyd-Thomas Erica Assistant Secretary for Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DCF)
Lloyd Tony Assistant Secretary for Administration, Department of Children and Families
Sachs Walter Family Well Being Director, FL Department of Children & Families
Sidoti Melissa community development administrator, FL DCF Circuit 1
Jones Dorothea administrative assistant, community development administrator, FL DCF Circuit 1
Ladapo Joseph State Surgeon General, Department of Health
Chapman Shay Deputy Divison Director, Community Health Promotion (DoH)
Jordan Melissa Assistant Deputy Secretary of Health
Woodward Yvonne Mental Health Coordinator (DoH)
Ochs Jared Chief of Staff, Florida Dept. Juvenile Justice (FLDJJ)
Smith Rita Chief Medical Officer, Office of Health Svcs, FL Dept of Juvenile Justice (FLDJJ)
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