Paul Bebee, Author at FAME

Florida Association of Managing Entities Recognizes Suicide Prevention Month

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The rate of suicide in the U.S. reached the highest on record in 2022 with 46,369 lives lost to suicide. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and the Florida Association of Managing Entities (FAME) reminds Floridians that behavioral health services are available.

According to the CDC, from 2011 to 2022, the number of suicides has increased by 16%. Federal data also shows an alarming increase in suicide rates among youth and young adults. From 2011 to 2021, the suicide rate among people ages 10-24 increased by 60%.

“It’s clear that the nation is in a mental health crisis. While there are a multitude of factors that are contributing to increased suicide rates, such as drug use, social isolation, social media, untreated mental health issues, and more, one thing is clear – we must continue to prioritize connecting life-saving behavioral health services with those who need it,” said Natalie Kelly, CEO of FAME.

Florida’s seven Managing Entities oversee Florida’s behavioral health safety net system of more than 300 providers. The Managing Entities meet the unique needs of Florida’s communities. There are various programs that help stabilize individuals who need it and connect them with lifesaving behavioral health services, engaging partners such as the faith-based and veteran communities.

Some of these programs include: Mobile Response Teams of highly trained counselors that de-escalate situations; high level of care coordination for individuals; hospital bridge programs that coordinate services after an individual is stabilized in the emergency department; and school mental health services among other behavioral health services.

Florida’s Managing Entities collaborate with providers that deliver services to over 300,000 of Florida’s most vulnerable residents, including children, expectant mothers, veterans, and the chronically homeless. Additionally, the system provides nearly 1.7 million Floridians with preventative services and reaches hundreds of thousands more through indirect preventative services, such as education initiatives.

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About the Florida Association of Managing Entities

The Florida Association of Managing Entities (FAME) is the statewide organization representing Florida’s seven Managing Entities. FAME’s mission is to advance the behavioral health recovery of individuals and their families in the state of Florida. For more information, visit FLManagingEntities.com.

In The News

Peer Support Space Provides Twice Daily Group Sessions for Floridians With Post-Hurricane Anxiety

ORLANDO, Fla. – Peer Support Space, a provider within Behavioral Health Managing Entity Central Florida Cares’ network, is hosting twice daily group online sessions for those who have hurricane-related anxiety.

Interested Floridians, ages 18 and up, can join a session at either 12 p.m. or 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday by using the following link: https://peersupportspace.org/daily-gatherings

“There’s a significant emotional toll for individuals who have experienced a hurricane, and we’re grateful that Peer Support Space is offering these virtual group sessions to address the anxiety many Floridians are experiencing right now,” said Central Florida Cares CEO Maria Bledsoe.

About Central Florida Cares

Central Florida Cares Health System, Inc. is one of Florida’s seven Behavioral Health Managing Entities and has managed substance use and mental health services for Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties, and is supported by Florida’s Department of Children and Families. Central Florida Cares fund a services network of many organizations offering various levels of treatment options.

In The News

#MentalHealthMattersFL

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Press Releases

Florida Association of Managing Entities Applauds Attorney General Moody on Walgreens Settlement

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Association of Managing Entities CEO Natalie K. Kelly issued the following statement regarding Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s announcement of a $680 million settlement with Walgreens for its role in the opioid crisis.

“On behalf of Florida’s seven Managing Entities, I applaud Attorney General Moody for her steadfast fight in the battle against prescription drug abuse and the $680 million settlement her office reached with Walgreens,” said FAME CEO Natalie Kelly. “Florida is suffering from a drug overdose death rate 23 percent higher than the national average, and we must do everything we can to address this crisis.

“I look forward to these funds being made available in an accountable and streamlined manner over the next two decades by the state to combat the opioid epidemic.”

Florida’s seven local Managing Entities work with a network of over 300 behavioral health care providers who deliver services to over 300,000 of Florida’s most vulnerable residents, including children, expectant mothers, veterans, and the chronically homeless.

Providers meet patients’ diverse needs with “wraparound services” that not only address mental health issues and substance abuse, but also assist with housing, transportation, and employment. Community boards administer, manage, and ensure accountability of state and federal funds for behavioral health services, keeping oversight and accountability closest to the people they serve.

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About the Florida Association of Managing Entities

In The News

Those reentering society from jail need tools to succeed

As seen in the Orlando Sentinel

By Maria Bledsoe, CEO of Central Florida Cares Health System

Who hasn’t benefited from a second chance? When it comes to persons who find themselves involved in the criminal-justice system, second chances will soon be significantly enhanced in Central Florida. Osceola County has entered into a historic agreement with the aim of reducing recidivism and increasing employment and stability for persons recently released from jail.

When something is broken, our aim is to address the root cause and determine the best path forward in resolving the challenge. The criminal-justice system is currently reconsidering how it does business and how to best address the needs of individuals returning to society following incarceration.

Most segments of the criminal justice system either have adopted or are in the process of adopting a “person-first” results oriented and data-driven approach to transitioning the incarcerated into society and helping assure they have the necessary tools to meet with success and not return to the criminal justice system.

Reentry programs are the toolkits that are proving successful throughout the nation. The Florida Department of Children and Families has awarded a Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant to Central Florida Cares Health System and this grant will allow the implementation of the Osceola County Corrections Emerge Re-Entry Program for their adult population transitioning back into the community.

Programs like these have a proven track record of success at helping people become valuable contributing members of society while simultaneously reducing future and long-term costs to the taxpayers. In partnership with Osceola County Corrections Department and Turning Point Counseling & Consulting, we are currently implementing the Emerge Re-Entry Program. I praise the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners for having the foresight to support this program that will likely be a tremendous step forward in helping our community successfully face and address the challenge of re-entering society and doing so at less or no risk of returning to “the system.”

Emerge is a community reentry program for recently discharged individuals. The largest provider of behavioral-health services in the United States are the county jails. We recognize the impact of behavioral health issues on those involved in, or at risk of involvement in, the criminal justice system and the benefits of working collaboratively to enhance outcomes and reduce recidivism.

This expansion will focus on increasing public safety, averting increased spending on, and increasing accessibility to and effectiveness of treatment services for adults with mental health and/or substance use disorder(s) who are in or at risk of entering the criminal justice system. The individuals served are adults who may be at-risk due to factors that may include homelessness, unstable living situations, history of victimization and/or abuse, history of involvement with the criminal justice system, and/or those re-entering society from jail and/or a forensic facility.

The re-entry program includes collateral services which are key to reducing recidivism such as supportive housing, supported employment, training and education, peer recovery services, and access to mental health and substance use treatment services.

In conjunction with Mobile Response Teams in Law Enforcement, the Re-Entry programs are reshaping how our criminal justice system operates for those with mental-health issues and/or substance-use disorder. The saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” applies to this community challenge. For countless decades, we have talked about “rehabilitation,” and with innovative approaches such as re-entry programs, we are embracing rehabilitation at its best.

With COVID-19, technological advances, and societal growth, there no longer is “business as usual.” These programs are transformative for not only the system and the individuals involved but also for our entire community. I applaud Florida’s Department of Children and Families for selecting Osceola Corrections for what will likely be a success story from which all Central Floridians will reap the benefits.

Maria Bledsoe is Chief Executive Officer of Central Florida Cares Health System, the state-designated managing entity for Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties which works to implement an affordable, high-quality behavioral health care system for persons with mental health and/or substance use disorders who are underinsured or uninsured.

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Author Archives: Paul Bebee