Florida aims to build a comprehensive crisis response system

By Trimmel Gomes, Florida News Connection

Florida is attracting attention with its efforts to build a comprehensive crisis response system for mental health problems.

A new report from mental health advocacy group Inseparable calls for policy action to expand the capacity of 988 emergency call centers, increase the availability of mobile response units, create more crisis stabilization centers and introduce stable funding mechanisms to maintain services.

Melanie Brown-Woofter, president of the Florida Behavioral Health Association, said the Sunshine State is doing all this and more to help people in crisis, including opening additional clinics.

“And with the certified community mental health clinics, we’re really building a complete system that allows a person in crisis to get treatment and be connected to the right care at the right time,” Brown-Woofter explained. “And provide them with the resources they need.”

She pointed out that Florida is well ahead of other states with its mobile response teams, which have been in place for over 30 years. She cited increased state funding to expand services and establish centralized reception facilities, which are not yet available in all states.

As she described it, the facilities offer a complete range of care, from crisis intervention and inpatient treatment to detoxification services and child care – all in one place.

Angela Kimball, Inseparable’s chief advocacy officer, said the program includes solutions to ensure everyone in a mental health crisis gets the right help at the right time and provides a detailed roadmap for lawmakers.

“Our real goal is to create a very visual, easy-to-understand tool that shows them how to become that champion,” Kimball said. “That helps make sure that no one is prevented from living their best life by having their worst day.”

Another of Kimball’s goals is to spark conversations about what can be done. For example, the report highlighted Oklahoma’s RideCare program, which provides transportation to emergency centers for non-police officers. Oklahoma also distributed nearly 30,000 iPads with crisis de-escalation tools to first responders and others.

In Georgia, there are “Peer2Peer Warm Lines” that provide 24/7 support from trained specialists for people with problems who may not require emergency care.