Florida Counties Receive More Than $8 Million Over Three Years in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Funding

Communities pledge to match state dollars to provide better services for persons in need

View the Awards Document (PDF, 23k)
View the Summaries of each County's Award (PDF, 94k)

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. -- Leaders of the Department of Children and Families were in Gainesville today to congratulate Alachua County officials and community activists for receiving a grant award of nearly $1 million. This grant will provide community substance abuse and mental health treatment funding during the next three years, which will be matched dollar for dollar by local resources. Alachua's grant award is just one of 22 matching grants statewide given through the Florida Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation to those areas striving to address their community needs for substance abuse and mental health services.

"We are excited to be here with community members who recognize the importance of this issue," said Deputy Secretary Don Winstead. "These grants allow communities to focus on service programs that stress prevention and early intervention, but most importantly is that we are making treatment available to this greatly under served population."

The grant awards are part of the Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Act and Grant which passed during the 2007 Legislative Session. The Act addresses the need for specialized programs for individuals with mental health, substance abuse or co-occurring disorders who are at risk of entering the criminal justice system.

"This is the dawn of a new era in which state and local government work together to more appropriately and effectively address substance abuse and mental health issues," said Judge Melanie May, of the Fourth District Court of Appeal and Chair of the grant review committee. "The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation is extremely proud to be a part of this initiative."

The new matching grant program encourages partnerships among state, local and private organizations to collectively address the need for treatment of individuals in Florida's county jails and state prisons. By supporting prevention, intervention and diversion, local programs will reduce the rate at which persons with substance abuse and/or mental health disorders re-offend resulting in the better use of taxpayer dollars.

The grants are a collaborative effort between state and local governments and advocacy organizations including the Florida Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation Board, Florida Peer Network, Florida Partners in Crisis, Florida Association of Counties, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Elder Affairs, the State Courts Administrator and the Department of Children and Families.

For more information about the Department of Children and Families visit http://www.state.fl.us/cf_web/.