Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder
Mission of the Commission
As provided by Section 394.9086, Florida Statutes, the Commission on Mental health and Substance Use Disorder (Commission) was created in 2021 and ratified in 2023 by the Florida Legislature to examine the current methods of providing mental health and substance use disorder services in the state and to improve the effectiveness of current practices, procedures, programs, and initiatives in providing such services; identify any barriers or deficiencies in the delivery of such services; assess the adequacy of the current infrastructure of Florida’s 988 suicide and Crisis Lifeline system and other components of the state’s crisis response services; and recommend changes to existing laws, rules, and policies necessary to implement the Commission’s recommendations. The Commission meets upon the call of the chair via teleconference or in-person.
Subcommittees
Strategy and Planning
The mission of the Strategy and Planning subcommittee is to develop a framework for cross-agency statewide behavioral health strategy and planning. Section 394.9086, F.S., directs the Commission in several sections to address planning for the best development of the mental health and substance use disorder treatment delivery system. While the Department of Children and Families, as the State’s Mental Health Authority, engages in annual planning, that process has not historically included the breadth and depth of stakeholders currently included as both Commissioners and Subject Matter Experts on the Commission. In developing a path forward for the State following the currently contemplated sunset of the Commission in 2026, this Committee will hear presentations and testimony related to best practices for cross-agency, publicly accessible, comprehensive, statewide planning and strategy development, and develop recommendations for the creation of an ongoing framework for the Florida Legislature and Executive Office of the Governor to be presented with regularly delivered recommendations for the best-practice development of mental health and substance use disorder treatment across all publicly-funded State delivery systems.
- Commissioners assigned to the Strategy and Planning Subcommittee and dedicated Subject Matter Experts
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
The mission of the Dual Diagnosis Treatment subcommittee is to examine the care delivery system for individuals dually diagnosed with behavioral health conditions and substance abuse conditions; developmental disability conditions; and who are Seniors. Section 394.9086, F.S., directs the Commission in several sections, and especially 4a2, to “consider the unique needs of persons who are dually diagnosed”. This Committee will hear presentations and testimony related to the evaluation and treatment of individuals who have been diagnosed with dual disorders, including but not necessarily limited to individuals who, in addition to mental health diagnoses, carry diagnoses of substance use disorder, major medical diseases, developmental delays, autism spectrum classifications, and/or brain and behavioral disorders typically related to aging such as alzheimer’s and dementia. The Committee will review current and best practices for the assessment and treatment of these individuals, with specific attention to the best practices for addressing emergency treatment situations and ongoing care and make recommendations for any necessary modifications of or additions to the current array of publicly funded behavioral health treatment options to best address the needs of this population.
- Commissioners assigned to the Dual Diagnosis Treatment Subcommittee and dedicated Subject Matter Experts
Funding
The mission of the Funding subcommittee is to examine the various funding mechanisms for behavioral health across the State and recommend options for optimal funding mechanisms. Section 394.9086, F.S., directs the Commission in several sections to address and recommend the best financing and contracting mechanisms for the best development of the mental health and substance use disorder treatment delivery system. This Committee will hear presentations and testimony related to current and best practices for behavioral health financing and contracting, including specific reviews of the disparate contracting and financing methodology used by the Agency for Health Care Administration, Department of Children and Families, Department of Education, Department of Juvenile Justice and other public funders, and develop recommendations for optimal funding and contracting methodology and practice for publicly funded behavioral health delivery systems.
- Commissioners assigned to the Funding Subcommittee and dedicated Subject Matter Experts
Data Analysis
As directed by the Legislature, this sub-committee will review data collection, reporting mechanisms, and other data resources related to behavioral health across all available data sets and make recommendations for the development of a searchable statewide behavioral health data repository in order to address the quality and effectiveness of current mental health and substance use disorder abuse services delivery systems, identify gaps in delivery systems as well as recommendations for promising practices and data-based goals for and of current behavioral health systems.