HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-045 RESOLUTION NO. 11-045
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING A LETTER FROM THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO THE COUNTY'S STATE
LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION ON BEHALF OF THOUSANDS OF
INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY THAT RECEIVE
MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES FROM NEW
HORIZONSOFTHETREASURE COASTAND OTHERAREA PROVIDERS
WHEREAS, thousands of individuals residing in St. Lucie County receive mental health and
substance abuse services from New Horizons of the Treasure Coast and other area providers; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature is raising serious questions regarding whether or not the
state can simply rely on the Medicaid program for its mental health and substance abuse care, and
eliminate all or most ofthe mental health and substance abuse services administered through the
Department of Children and Families; and
WHEREAS, Medicaid does not cover many mental health and substance abuse individuals
because they do not meet the restrictive federal disability criteria ortheir income levels are slightly
above the poverty income threshold that qualifies them for Medicaid; and
WHEREAS, Florida would lose all federal mental health and substance abuse block grant
funding for failing to maintain a state treatment system; and
WHEREAS, if the Legislature is successful with their proposals, St. Lucie County will see a
marked increase in emergency room and hospital admissions, forensic commitments, county jail
admissions, prison incarcerations, and homelessness would undoubtedly increase; and
WHEREAS, the Courts and law enforcement would lose their safety net of emergency crisis
services they have depended on for decades; and
WHEREAS, Florida ranks 49th in mental health funding and 35th in substance funding. It is
an undisputed fact that investing in mental health and substance abuse services saves tax payer
dollars by keeping individuals out of costly hospital stay, jails, and the other services mentioned
above.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie
County, Florida:
Section 1: The foregoing recitals contained in the preamble to this Resolution are
incorporated by reference herein.
Section 2: This Board supports a letter beingsenttothe County's Legislative Delegation
requestingthe State to continue funding mental health and substance abuse services with no cuts
to an already poorly funded system.
Section 3: The County Administrator shall forward this Resolution to all appropriate
persons and parties.
Section 4: This Resolution shall take effect upon its adoption.
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 15` day of February 2011.
BOARD O OUNTY CO ISSIO ERS
ATTEST: M ST. LU E UNTY, O DA
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BY:
County Attorn