In 2016, the Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 12, which made several significant changes to Chapters 394 and 397, Florida Statutes. Section 394.462, Florida Statutes, requires collaboration between each county and its managing entity in creation of a comprehensive plan for a Designated Receiving System in Broward County to meet the behavioral health needs of persons in crisis due to mental illness or substance abuse conditions. Broward Behavioral Health Coalition, Inc., is the regional managing entity.
A countywide stakeholders' meeting was held on January 26, 2017, specific to the Plan and its integration into the Central Receiving System. Representatives from a wide cross-section of the community attended. A listing of the stakeholders may be found on pages 5 - 6 of the Plan. At that meeting, it was decided that an ad hoc volunteer workgroup would craft the Plan that aligns with the intent and new requirements of Chapters 394 and 397, Florida Statutes. The objectives of the Plan, which takes effect on July 1, 2017, are to:
- Support the Designated Receiving System for acute care to provide screenings and triage, comprehensive assessments, and immediate access to services in Broward County.
- Support diversion from inpatient acute care through outpatient crisis intervention, referral, linkage, and recovery support.
- Provide a dignified, humane, and efficient method of transportation to and among acute care and medical facilities, including persons from nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or other residential settings.
- Continue to utilize the Broward Sheriff's Office and its specialized Baker Act Team (when available) to provide transportation services to reduce the demand on other local law enforcement agencies for transportation services.
- Divert admissions from hospital emergency rooms, and maintain updated policies on medical clearance.
- Provide an appropriate alternative to jail and the criminal justice system for persons with behavioral health disorders.
- Assist law enforcement with Crisis Intervention Team Training.
- Provide a range of acute care services to treat persons in the least restrictive setting in the community, avoiding state psychiatric civil or forensic hospital admissions.
This Plan was reviewed by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) - Southeast Region, Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program Office; Broward County's Baker Act Task Force; the Broward Behavioral Health Coalition's (the managing entity) System of Care/Quality Improvement Committee; and other community stakeholders before submission for approval here. Accountability under the Plan lies with DCF, and the public official responsible for overseeing the Plan is the DCF Regional SAMH Program Director.
The Board has the final authority on approval of the Plan before submittal to the Secretary of DCF.
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