Florida Partners in Crisis

Partners in Crisis to co-host 2009 Criminal Justice Reinvestment Grant Symposium

“Meeting the Challenges Ahead” is the theme of this year’s Criminal Justice Reinvestment Grant Symposium, July 23-24, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 7800 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, FL.  Presentations will emphasize sustainability and continued expansion of community-based jail diversion programs during challenging economic times.

Presenters will include a number of state and local officials from the social services and criminal justice sectors, as well as faculty of the Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Technical at the Florida Mental Health Institute. Florida Lt .Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, Sen. Victor Crist of Tampa and Rep. Sandy Adams of Oviedo also have been invited to speak. 

“Florida Partners is pleased to be a co-sponsor of this year’s symposium,” said Partners Executive Director Gail Cordial.  “We hope that our members interested in developing and expanding community-based treatment alternatives can join us for this outstanding two-day event.” 

Cordial

“So much has been accomplished in a short time by the 23 counties that received reinvestment grants, as well as by other communities who have used local or federal resources,” Cordial said. “Through the collaboration of county officials, law enforcement, providers, judges and advocates, a greater number of people with mental illnesses are being served in appropriate settings and tax dollars are being saved.”

Cordial said the symposium will offer an opportunity for representatives of those communities to share their ideas and best practices for making the best use of tax dollars, as well as to discuss any implementation challenges they had to overcome.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation, Florida Association of Counties, Florida Certification Board, Department of Children & Families and Partners in Crisis have combined resources to help keep symposium costs down. 

The registration fee for the two-day symposium is $50, including lunch for both days and the cost of continuing education credits.  Up to 9.5 hours of CEUs are available to participants.

Special conference room rates at the Crowne Plaza are $109 per night plus applicable taxes. To make reservations, call the hotel at (407) 355-0550 and ask for the Criminal Justice Reinvestment Symposium rate.  

Reservations must be made by July 3, 2009 to receive the symposium rate. Reservations made after July 3 cannot be guaranteed at the symposium rate.

For a registration form and complete agenda, download the symposium brochure here.

Partners will provide travel stipends on a first-come, first-served basis for three people with mental illnesses and/or substance use disorder to attend the symposium.  Those interested should contact Gail Cordial at 321-453-8825 or gailc@flpic.org.