Author Archives: Daniel Dean

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 16, 2020

Local officials, business leaders celebrate partnership to provide mental health professionals with PPE

~ YMP Real Estate Management donates 5,000 KN95 masks to local Managing Entity ~

HIALEAH, Fla. – Miami-Dade County’s efforts to support the mental well-being of residents received a major boost when Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, Commissioner Esteban “Steve” Bovo, and John W. Newcomer, M.D., gathered at Citrus Health Network to receive a donation of 5,000 KN95 masks from local real estate executive Moshe Popack. The masks were donated to Thriving Mind | South Florida, the Managing Entity tasked with managing the mental health and substance abuse safety net system for Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

“I want to thank Moshe Popack for his generosity,” said Mayor Gimenez. “May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, so this donation goes a long way to help our community meet the mental health care needs of the uninsured residents whom Managing Entities serve.”

The donated KN95 masks will greatly enhance the ability of mental health and substance abuse providers to treat patients dealing with the extraordinary challenges brought on by the COVID-19 crisis. In addition to receiving state funding, Managing Entities work to secure outside funding and resources to bolster the safety net system through grants and community partnerships like this one. This donation fills an important need for residential and in-person facilities that treat those in crisis, where personal protection equipment (PPE) is necessary to continue offering safe treatment.

“Access to effective services is always important, but the need for services has clearly persisted and even increased in several ways during this pandemic,” said Dr. Newcomer, President & CEO of Thriving Mind. “We would not be able to do this without community partnerships that include Miami Dade County, particularly our partnerships with the schools, law enforcement, and the courts, and of course, generous support from individuals like Mr. Moshe Popack.”

South Florida has been the site of Florida’s largest number of COVID-19 cases, and the need for mental health and substance abuse services has reflected that. In an effort to address this surge, local leaders have prioritized mental health and are encouraging partnerships like this one to help increase access to vital health care services.

“I want to thank Moshe Popack for his generous donation of five thousand KN95 masks to our front-line health professionals at Thriving Mind | South Florida amid the coronavirus pandemic. Due to social isolation and economic uncertainty, many in our community have felt the ominous impact of serious mental distress,” said Commissioner Bovo. “This is further exacerbated for some who were already facing mental health challenges in their everyday life. I am proud to join Mayor Gimenez in thanking Moshe for this donation to our health heroes as they assist those suffering from mental health conditions.”

Moshe Popack is a Miami Beach resident and Chairman & CEO of YMP Real Estate Management, a top real estate investment firm that spans five states and includes both residential and commercial properties. He and his wife, Yaffa, are active in a number of philanthropic endeavors in South Florida revolving around mental health initiatives, healthy nutrition, and food access for low-income families, as well as numerous Jewish community family and faith programs.

“I am pleased to provide some PPE assistance in the form of 5,000 KN95 masks for the safety of our front-line health care workers, particularly as they serve the needs of the behavioral health patient community,” Popack said. “I am grateful to both Mayor Gimenez and Commissioner Bovo for helping coordinate this donation to Thriving Mind | South Florida.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 13, 2020

Legislature Passes Children’s Mental Health Bill Aimed at Reducing Number of Children in Crisis

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – HB 945, the Children’s Mental Health bill, is on its way to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk after winning unanimous approval in the Legislature earlier today. The bill outlines specific procedures that must be followed by the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Agency for Health Care Administration to address the growing number of children suffering mental health crises across Florida.

Over 36,000 children were subject to Baker Act examinations in Florida as recently as the 2017/2018 fiscal year. The legislation approved today will reduce the number of children in crisis through a coordinated effort led by Managing Entities to engage various community stakeholders to create a tailored response to each area’s unique needs. Managing Entities are local, not-for-profit businesses with community boards that manage and coordinate state and federal funds for substance abuse and mental health (SAMH) services.

“We applaud the Legislature for taking this important step to reduce the number of children in crisis by placing its trust in the Managing Entities,” said Natalie Kelly, executive director of the Florida Association of Managing Entities. “Managing Entities are uniquely positioned to provide the oversight needed to ensure that Florida’s children receive effective and consistent care.”

The bill tasks Managing Entities with developing a plan for a coordinated system of care for children. The Managing Entities will collaborate with behavioral health service providers, law enforcement agencies, school districts and superintendents, and other community organizations to identify local needs.

The bill also directs managing Entities to coordinate mobile response teams to deploy in times of crisis. Managing Entities have established a track record of addressing children’s mental health needs following a crisis, including playing a role in coordinating mental health services for  students and families following the Majorie Stoneman Douglas shooting, as well as other needs identified by schools and the community at-large.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 2, 2020

Behavioral Health “Care Coordination” is key to reducing readmissions for individuals in crisis

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A statewide program that is showing positive results in reducing readmissions for individuals in crisis is being considered again for funding in the state budget. ROAD TO RECOVERY is a system-level care coordination program for high-need individuals who are high utilizers of services in the behavioral health system – those who frequently use emergency rooms, jails, and acute care as a result of mental health and addiction problems.

Managing Entity Care Coordination identifies those individuals who are high utilizers of costly services and confirms needed services, coordinates a team approach to care with multiple providers and other community resources as needed (e.g., housing), and then tracks progress to ensure success. Managing Entities are local, not-for-profit businesses with community boards that manage and coordinate state and federal funds for Floridians who live with mental health and substance disorders.

“Managing Entities are uniquely positioned to provide the oversight needed to ensure that individuals receive effective, consistent, and evidence-based care,” said John W. Newcomer, MD, CEO of Thriving Mind South Florida, the Managing Entity for Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. “Managing Entities are highly connected in the communities we serve. We fund and oversee local networks of health care provider organizations that together offer our communities a comprehensive system of care, and we also maintain active partnerships with law enforcement, the courts, the schools, and other community organizations – for example, to address homelessness in our population. System-level (managing entity-level) care coordination is critical to our ability to achieve Florida’s goal to reduce the number of individuals in crisis.”

Care coordination is designed to overcome the problems that arise when individuals seek care from multiple providers, including lack of timely sharing of needed treatment information among providers, lack of monitoring to ensure client engagement, and lack of coordinated responsibilities among multiple providers serving the same client. These issues can hinder the effectiveness of treatment and lead to readmission. Through care coordination, Managing Entities are able to provide oversight and accountability for services, reduce any redundancy, and assure needed outcomes.

“We are grateful for the support of Senator Darryl Rouson and the Florida Legislature in championing this funding,” said Linda McKinnon, CEO of Central Florida Behavioral Health Network, the Managing Entity in the Suncoast region. “They recognize the positive impact that comes from effective care coordination services and understand that this funding would prioritize the treatment needs of vulnerable Floridians.”

In 2019, the Managing Entities received 3.5 million dollars for care coordination and in the year following, they have seen reductions of readmission rates of “high utilizers.” For example, LSF Health Systems, the Managing Entity in Jacksonville, reported readmission rates as low as 3-5% for “high utilizers.” As the readmission rate decreases, so does the use of deep-end, costly services and inappropriate settings such as jails, emergency rooms, and detox facilities, while also reducing out-of-home placement for children. Care Coordination allows families to remain intact while family members receive the help they need.

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The Florida Association of Managing Entities (FAME) represents Florida’s seven managing entities. Managing entities are local, not-for-profit businesses with community boards that administer, manage, and ensure accountability of state and federal funds for Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) services.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 27, 2020

Behavioral Health Managing Entities
Applaud Governor Ron DeSantis for Declaring
February 27 Florida Suicide Prevention Day

TALLAHASSEE, Fla, – Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death for all Floridians, and to address this issue, Governor Ron DeSantis has proclaimed February 27, 2020, to be Florida Suicide Prevention Day. The Governor’s proclamation supports work done by Florida’s Managing Entities to connect with the communities they serve and ensure vulnerable Floridians are receiving quality care from substance abuse and mental health providers.

“Florida’s priority is to reduce the number of families in crisis by increasing access to prevention and pre-crisis contacts,” said Governor DeSantis in his proclamation. “Florida Suicide Prevention Day is an opportunity to raise awareness in hopes of preventing a devastating impact on Florida’s families and communities.”

Florida lost 3,552 lives to suicide and between 2008 and 2018, and Florida’s suicide rate per 100,000 population increased from 14.6 to 17.0 according to the Florida Department of Health. In order to fight this increase, Florida mental health advocates are pushing for a focus on preventative services as well as increased public education about potential warning signs. Common warning signs include increased use of drugs or alcohol, talking about hopelessness or no reason to live, talking about being a burden to others, and extreme mood swings.

“Florida’s Managing Entities collaborate with communities and providers to increase access to substance abuse and mental health services,” said Natalie Kelly, chief executive officer of the Florida Association of Managing Entities. “Our priority is to make sure those in need can receive this critical care in a way that is effective and lasting.”

First Lady Casey DeSantis, chair of the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet, has partnered with agencies across the state to develop better prevention and intervention strategies to decrease deaths by suicide in Florida. Supporters of suicide prevention will be wearing green on February 27 to raise awareness for this important day.

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The Florida Association of Managing Entities (FAME) represents Florida’s seven managing entities. Managing entities are local, not-for-profit businesses with community boards that administer, manage and ensure accountability of state and federal funds for Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) services.