Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsApril 25, 2016

The state’s prisons agency and a prisoner rehab program now are sparring in press releases. The Florida Department of Corrections last week said it was ending its partnership with the Orlando-based Bridges of America nonprofit. Bridges of America had a contract to run a transitional and substance abuse program in Broward County. The arrangement ends May 16, and the department told the […]

Jim RosicaApril 22, 2016

A nonprofit specializing in helping former prisoners re-enter society is slamming the state for shutting it down. Specifically, Bridges of America says the Department of Corrections is pulling the plug on its transitional and substance abuse program in Broward County. The current contract between Bridges and the department ends May 16. The state told the […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 14, 2016

The Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs, chaired by Hollywood Democratic Sen. Eleanor Sobel, on Thursday unanimously passed Senate Bill 12, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, sponsored by Hialeah Republican Sen. Rene Garcia to improve the delivery of mental health and substance abuse services. “Our current system of behavioral health services is fragmented […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 21, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Monday said he’ll ask lawmakers to put $19 million into next year’s state budget to treat mental illness and substance abuse. That amount includes “$12.8 million for Community Behavioral Health Services, $3.7 million to add more Community Action Treatment (CAT) teams and $2.8 million to expand Family Intensive Treatment (FIT) teams,” the Governor’s […]

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 […]

Christine Jordan SextonFebruary 9, 2015

When Chet Bell started in the mental health arena 35 years ago the work, he said, was more akin with the justice system than the health-care arena. That has slowly changed, said Bell, now a management consultant with Stewart Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare, with locations throughout central Florida, including Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, DeLand, DeBary and […]

Christine Jordan SextonJanuary 5, 2015

There will be a push in 2015 to increase the amount of money Florida spends on community-based mental health and substance abuse services. Specifically, the Florida Council for Community Mental Health will ask members of the Legislature to increase their reimbursement rates by $44.5 million in state dollars. Because that money is eligible for matching […]

Tag: substance abuse
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 4/18/25-Candles and remembrances are left near the Unconquered statue a few hours after the Florida State University Gathering of Unity Vigil held Friday to honor victims of the recent mass shooting. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

Bridges of America fighting to stay open in Broward

State ending prisoner-assistance program in Broward

Senate committee passes legislation to improve delivery of mental health, substance abuse services

Rick Scott says he’ll budget $19M for mental illness

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

Florida needs to spend more money on mental health and substance abuse, provider says

Community-based providers push for more mental health funding