“…specifically for brainstorming, designing and planning for a potential long-term treatment facility in Region One of Florida (that’s most of the panhandle). Part of our strategic plan indicated that lacking in a long-term care facility in our area creates a large gap in services…”
I looked up the strategic plan on the Task Force’s website and did a search for “long-term treatment.” The phrase isn’t in the plan.
So what’s going on?
Baptist VP Jennifer Grove said the long-term treatment facility is part of it, despite my insistence that it wasn’t.
From my notes of the conversation:
Grove: “It’s in the building capacity.”
Outzen: “I don’t think so.”
Grove: “We didn’t call out specifically that we want to bring a mental healthcare treatment facility, but it absolutely has been part and parcel of our discussions.”
She said that no one in the state of Florida has such a long-term treatment facility, but they exist elsewhere in the country.
Who is we?
At 3:23 p.m. yesterday, Rep. Salzman sent out an agenda and preliminary survey results for today’s invitation-only meeting. Read September 13 Task Force Agenda.
- She wrote, “Since this is an innovative concept, there isn’t a lot of solid input.”
The Preliminary Survey Results list three partnership groups:
- Facility: Baptist, EAP Lifestyle, Health & Hope Clinic
- Community: Lakeview, Secret Home Place, Escarole Suicide Coalition, Children’s Home Society, Veteran Affairs.
- Investment: State of Florida, Santa Rosa County, Private Donors
Preference on Placement of Facility
- Majority – Escambia County – “a couple mentions of old Baptist Medical Park”
- Santa Rosa
- East of Santa Rosa
From agenda materials:
What is YOUR vision of what a community long-term facility would look like?
• Community engaged facility that is used by multiple agencies
• We should be modeling from other long term facilities – using their best practices.
• Transportation services, youth and adults services, clinical staff well trained
• A “ground zero” approach.. Complimentary of the CRF
• A place that doesn’t “feel sterile” with a trauma informed lenses
• Residential long-term should be 30-180 days of treatment, providing transitional step- down programs that include therapeutic models combined with potential for vocational support
• comprehensive -serving co-occuring diagnosis and including medical, social, vocational, and peer support components. The facility should be integrated with other components of the Task Force Blueprint, but voluntary as opposed to involuntary admissions would likely foster the best outcomes.
Who should manage facility:
- Baptist
- Lakeview
- Someone beyond Florida who has experience
Read survey results
Who has been invited?
I have been dropped from the invitation list. However, PNJ executive editor Lisa Savage and reporter Benjamin Johnson are on it.
66 people were sent Salzman’s email, including:
State Government: 13 people
HCA West Florida: 6
Baptist: 6
Ascension Sacred Heart: 1
UWF: 3
Community Health: 2
Veteran Affairs: 2
Lakeview: 2
Santa Rosa County: 2
City of Pensacola: 2
Northwest Florida Health Network: 2
Peace Out…Not Quite
I can’t help but bring up that Rep. Salzman told the Mental Health Task Force in May that she would no longer lead the task force and Mike Watkins of Northwest Florida Health Network would assume the reins. Salzman was applauded for her efforts.