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Recent News

  • Partners in Crisis to co-host 2009 Criminal Justice Reinvestment Grant Symposium (read more)
  • Drug court, other key bills signed by Governor (read more)
  • Fiscal concerns lead to defeat of innovative criminal justice diversion bill (read more)

Partners Meetings

  • Board of Directors Meeting Sept 30, 2009 (read more)
View full Calendar of Events

Upcoming Events

  • State Mental Health Planning Council Jul 16 - 17, 2009 (read more)
  • CJMHSA Reinvestment Grant Conference Jul 23 - 24, 2009 (read more)
  • FADAA Annual Conference Aug 12, 2009 (read more)
  • FL Council for Community Mental Health Annual Conference Sept 2, 2009 (read more)
  • South Florida Rally for Recovery Sept 12, 2009 (read more)
View full Calendar of Events
One Voice advocating Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

2009 Legislative Priorities Summary

At this time of fiscal crisis, it is critical that the mental health and substance abuse services vital to our communities’ health and public safety net be preserved and that services are offered in cost-efficient ways.

When mental health and substance abuse treatment programs are reduced or eliminated, the impact is felt on our schools, jails, courts, emergency rooms and social service agencies.

Florida Partners in Crisis urges that current funding for mental health and substance abuse services be maintained and that greater emphasis be put on cost-effective, community-based treatment alternatives to jails, prison and state forensic mental health facilities.

The following measures will yield significant benefits to people in need as well as dividends to taxpayers:

  • Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment and Crime Reduction Act. Support this budget-neutral proposal to develop innovative strategies and services to divert people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders from jails, prisons and state forensic mental health facilities. This legislation will enact key recommendations of a special Florida Supreme Court mental health subcommittee.

  • Allocate an additional $1 million to Florida’s Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant Program to expand jail diversion services. This matching grant program enables counties to plan and implement effective jail diversion services through partnerships with law enforcement, the courts, local and state government agencies and treatment providers.

  • Continue to fund the $16 million in essential mental health and substance abuse programs established over the past several years via the Community Budget Issue Request (CBIR) process. The Legislature has continued to fund these projects for many years — many for as long as 17 years ― based on their vital role in local systems of care.

  • Restore substance abuse treatment funding cut from the Department of Corrections budget. These programs, both in prison and in the community, save the state money by reducing recidivism and improving chances for former offenders’ successful re-entry into the community.

To learn more about Partners in Crisis’ priority issues, download a copy of the 2009 legislative packet.