Campus Directory

University of South Florida · College of Behavioral & Community Sciences · Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute

FMHI Update - January 2016

Stakeholder Engagement

Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF): David Fairbanks, Deputy Director of DCF, coordinated a series of meetings with DCF leadership for our Associate Dean for Research and FMHI Director on Tuesday, 12/8. We met with the child welfare leadership (2 hours) and the SAMH leadership (2 hours). These meetings were an opportunity to ask DCF leadership how we can partner with them in useful ways, and introduce them to the resources available through CBCS and FMHI. Our next step is to invite Mike Carroll, Secretary of DCF, to come to CBCS and meet with our leadership.

Tampa Bay Community: A Colloquium on Mental Health, Guns, and Violence was held on Friday, 10/16 at the University Area Community Development Center. The colloquium was moderated by Dwayne Smith, Senior Vice Provost and Dean, office of Graduate Studies at USF. Presenters included Jeffrey Swanson from Duke University School of Medicine, Jane Castor--former Tampa Chief of Police, Alan Lizotte from the School of Criminal Justice, State University of New York at Albany, and the USF Chief of Police. About 200 people attended the colloquium and there was extensive media coverage (see story: http://intra.cbcs.usf.edu/MediaTracker/common/cfm/Unsecured/cbcs/ViewNews.cfm?NewsID=1578), including a letter to the Editor in the Tampa Bay Times (http://www.tbo.com/list/news-opinion-commentary/the-intersection-of-mental-health-guns-and-violence-a-balancing-act-20151030/).

Planning is underway for a Fall 2016 event that will be similar to the Mental Health, Guns, and Violence Colloquium. FMHI Director met with Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist on Thursday, 1/7. He had several suggestions for topics: Teenagers Raising Younger Siblings, Health Care Needs of Immigrants, Community Safety (walking, biking, driving), Homelessness. Once we agree on a topic, he has offered to identify and link us with community partners who can assist with resources for the event.

USF Department of Psychiatry: Several meetings between FMHI Director and Glen Currier, the new Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, to discuss partnership opportunities. We are planning a joint colloquium for faculty from Psychiatry and CBCS in February 2016—stay tuned for future information.

Projects and Activities

Proposed merger of Florida's Baker Act and Marchman Act: A series of community engagement activities and processes took place during Summer and Fall 2015 regarding the proposed legislation that included merger of the Baker Act and the Marchman Act legislation. These activities involved several FMHI Affiliates including Mark Engelhardt, Annette Christy, Roger Peters, and Mary Armstrong.

  • Facilitated 2 process mapping sections with the Psychiatric Council of the Florida Hospital Association in July
  • Collaborated with another workgroup by producing a process map graphic and a set of recommendations.
  • Work continuing with key partners regarding a process mapping tool about the service system---for use by John Bryant and other key stakeholders with legislative presentations.

Governor's Executive Order 15-175: In September 2015 the Governor of Florida issued Executive Order 15-175 calling for the Department of Children and Families to conduct an analysis of the behavioral health system of care in Alachua, Pinellas and Broward counties including a review of local, state, and federally funded behavioral health services, and an analysis of how behavioral health services are delivered and how well they are integrated with other services. In November we executed a contract with DCF to assist with the completion of two primary tasks: administrative analysis of behavioral health services and costs, and case file reviews in the three counties for high risk/high need target populations. This project will conclude with a set of recommendations to the state-level Executive Order Steering Committee regarding system-level reforms that will facilitate an integrated system of coordinated care for those individuals who are high utilizers of behavioral health services including those who are involved in the criminal and juvenile justice systems, the child welfare system, and those in state treatment facilities and their families.

211 Tampa Bay: Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and the Law Pre-College Program. Pre-College Programs offer high school students the opportunity to pursue academic interest, discover career opportunities, and explore the experience of university life. This one week event in June 2016 is fee-based and targeted to rising juniors and seniors. The goal is to generate enough cash ($6000) to support the Fall 2016 Community Colloquium.

Future Projects and Events

In March 2016 FMHI will apply for the continuation of the Summer Research Institute for Undergraduates. Decision has been made to submit the application to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Planning underway regarding the Letter of Intent and Application including identification of interested faculty and their roles.

Potential partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters through its CEO Pam Iorio. We have identified FMHI Affiliates who are interested in research and evaluation projects related to youth mentoring.