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After announcing the plan last year, Miami-Dade County formally passed legislation this month to create a Behavioral Health Advisory Commission. This is an important step towards addressing the critical emotional and mental health needs of residents.
upon. On February 6, the County Commission, comprised of 21 voting members elected to assist public and private entities on issues affecting Miami residents affected by behavioral health disorders, announced the Approved the final reading of an ordinance establishing a Behavioral Health Advisory Committee.
Its goal is to ensure that populations in crisis have access to quality behavioral health and substance use disorder services, increase access to care, and provide direct connections to community-based services. The goal is to create a coordinated system of care with sufficient capacity.
The board’s 21 voting members include the Miami-Dade police chief or county sheriff, the director of the Miami-Dade Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the executive director of the Homeless Trust, the state’s attorney, and the 11th public defender. Includes people. Judicial Circuit Court, Director of the Miami-Dade Department of Community Activities and Human Services, Director of the Miami-Dade Department of Juvenile Services, Superintendent of Schools, CEO of the South Florida Behavioral Health Network, and CEO Trust of the Department of Public Health.
These 10 people can become members of the board of directors or have their nominees appointed. The remaining 11 are:
■Current county commission member.
■Representative of Florida’s judicial system.
■Representative of the Florida Department of Children and Families.
■Veteran service personnel.
■Representatives of two behavioral health service providers licensed in the State of Florida who represent psychiatry, behavioral health, or medical health.
■Two people diagnosed with or suffering from a behavioral health disorder.
■Two family members of someone diagnosed with or suffering from a behavioral health disorder.
■Expert in behavioral health science.
Members must be permanent residents of the county and eligible electors, unless the county commissioners waive that requirement by a two-thirds vote.
Members of the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee will serve four-year terms without pay. There are no term limits for the 11 public commissioners.
The powers and duties of the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee include advising county commissioners on behavioral health issues, recommending ordinances, policies, activities or programs, and improving access to treatment.
The board will develop a behavioral health services needs assessment and oversee the operations of all behavioral health centers in the county, including the soon-to-open Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery. There is.
Located at 2200 Second Avenue NW, the new 150,000-square-foot, seven-story building will include a reception center, comprehensive crisis stabilization unit, residential care, courts, outpatient behavioral health and primary care, and dental and optometry. Services included.
Once open, the facility will have 208 beds, 16 acute care and crisis stabilization beds, 48 short-term residential beds, and an additional 144 beds for long-term residential treatment. A team of doctors, nurses, therapists and social workers will coordinate services.
The campus will offer day treatment and day activity programs, including a barbershop, basketball court, classroom and educational space, courtrooms, legal and social services agencies, transitional housing, employment services, and vocational rehabilitation.
