Mental Health Transformation in Florida

Florida is transforming its publicly funded mental health system to an
Individual and family-driven system that embraces prevention, resiliency, and recovery as guiding principles. This transformation of the public mental health system is anticipated to:

• Offer support to consumers ("persons served") and their families that reflect individual choices and needs;
• Raise expectations of what people with mental illnesses are capable of achieving; and
• Support and promote individual recovery and resiliency.

Mental illnesses span all age groups and touch every community. Fewer than half the adults with serious mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disturbances who need treatment are receiving services. Florida ranks 48th in spending for public mental health services, resulting in inadequacies in services for individuals with mental illnesses. The depopulation of Florida?s mental hospitals in the mid 1980s, coupled with a lack of adequate community mental health resources, has resulted in such consequences as overburdened crisis stabilization units and county jails.

The Department of Children and Families' Mental Health Program is responding to individual and family needs for more comprehensive and flexible mental health services by developing a new bundled service. New teams will offer opportunities for service flexibility, and provide individuals with greater choice of services to achieve their recovery. Community mental health centers will be shifting emphasis to recovery and resiliency-based services.

In Pasco and Pinellas Counties, there are monthly meetings, known as Recovery and Resiliency Meetings, which bring together consumers ("persons served"), providers, and stakeholders. The meetings are consumer-led and consumer-driven and have a focus of the needs and resources of mentally ill adults and children. All persons who have an interest are invited to participate (Click here for more information). Senior adults are especially encouraged to attend.

Reference: Florida Dept. of Children & Families Briefing Book: Vision, Values, Voices. September 2006