Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 15, 2015

The Senate has proposed a tandem of bills that, combined, would transform Florida’s mental health and substance abuse laws as well as increase the amount of federal Medicaid money used fund the programs. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human services will discuss two bills — released late Friday — at its March 16 […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 17, 2015

Florida’s child-welfare system is once again under Tallahassee’s microscope, further consequence of the death of 5-year-old Phoebe Jonchuck, whose father threw her off a St. Petersburg bridge into Tampa Bay on Jan. 8. Senate President Andy Gardiner is calling for an “across the board” examination of the state’s mental health care and abuse hotline procedures, […]

Florence SnyderFebruary 16, 2015

It’s not every day that a divorce lawyer reports her own client to the state’s child abuse hotline. But that’s what John Jonchuck’s lawyer did on January 7, when Jonchuck showed up at the firm’s office dressed in pajamas and toting his five-year-old daughter Phoebe, along with a Bible which he incorrectly believed to be written in Swedish. Jonchuck’s lawyer told the Hotline that […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 12, 2015

It’s not every day that a divorce lawyer reports her own client to the state child abuse hotline. But that’s what John Jonchuck‘s lawyer did. On Jan. 7, Jonchuck showed up at the firm’s office dressed in pajamas, toting his 5-year-old daughter Phoebe, along with a Bible he incorrectly believed to be written in Swedish. Jonchuck’s lawyer told the Hotline that her client was “out-of-his-mind […]

Associated PressFebruary 9, 2015

Just 12 hours before police say a man threw his 5-year-old daughter to her death off a Tampa Bay bridge last month, his own attorney called Florida’s child abuse hotline, warning that his client was suffering from mental delusions. But the hotline operator didn’t refer the call to investigators because she didn’t think the child […]

Martin DyckmanFebruary 6, 2015

If it’s too early to anoint a presidential front-runner among the Republicans, the national media are obviously treating Jeb Bush as one. Among the in-depth articles already up and running is a Boston Globe inquiry into his teenage years at the elite Phillips Academy nearly half a century ago. Another is a biting review on […]

Martin DyckmanFebruary 5, 2015

If it’s too early to anoint a presidential front-runner among the Republicans, the national media are obviously treating Jeb Bush as one. Among the in-depth articles already up and running is a Boston Globe inquiry into his teenage years at the elite Phillips Academy nearly half a century ago. Another is a biting review on […]

Ryan RayJanuary 27, 2015

As mental health becomes an increasingly prominent issue in child welfare and especially following acts of public violence, discussion by Florida lawmakers has not kept pace. Florida’s famous “Baker Act” — formally known as the Florida Mental Health Act of 1971 — which allows for involuntary commitment to a medical institution in some cases hasn’t been […]

Ryan RayJanuary 27, 2015

As mental health becomes an increasingly prominent issue in child welfare and especially following acts of public violence, discussion by Florida lawmakers has not kept pace. Florida’s famous “Baker Act” — formally known as the Florida Mental Health Act of 1971 — which allows for involuntary commitment to a medical institution in some cases hasn’t been […]

Peter SchorschJune 2, 2014

Gov. Rick Scott deserves some credit for being one of the loudest critics of the Obama administration’s handling of the scandal at the Veterans Administration. Last week, Scott announced that Florida is suing the VA to grant state health inspectors access to VA hospitals. For more than a month, the Obama administration denied state health inspectors […]

Tag: Department of Children and Families

Senate bill seeks additional federal Medicaid dollars for mental health and substance abuse programs

Andy Gardiner calls for full analysis after death of Phoebe Jonchuck

Florence Snyder: DCF's Orwellian response to child thrown from bridge

Florence Snyder: Phoebe Jonchuck tragedy reveals underpaid staff, DCF doublespeak

Hotline ignored calls on girl thrown over bridge by dad

Martin Dyckman: Jeb Bush’s behavior in the Schiavo case is unworthy of a governor — or a president

Martin Dyckman: Jeb Bush’s behavior in the Schiavo case is unworthy of a governor — or a president

Joe Abruzzo, Lori Berman file 'Baker Act' reform bill

Joe Abruzzo, Lori Berman file ‘Baker Act’ reform bill

Peter Schorsch: Scott outraged by VA scandal, but unfazed by DCF cover-up