TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Almost 200 leaders, clinicians, and families from across the state gathered Wednesday at the Florida Capitol for the annual Behavioral Health Day. Advocates met with legislators and state agencies to bring awareness to mental health and substance use disorder services in Florida.

Tallahassee, Fla. – This week, the Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) celebrates National Apprenticeship Week, an opportunity to highlight a proven and industry-driven training model that the organization and its community providers have worked to deploy in Florida to help bolster the mental health and substance use disorder treatment workforce.

TALLAHASSEE, FL, April 9, 2021 – The Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) today urged lawmakers to restore proposed state budget reductions of more than $60 million to community mental health and substance use providers who are already grappling with a surge in mental health trauma, opioid usage and suicides faced by Floridians struggling with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Florida has seen a significant increase in people of all ages and backgrounds who are suffering from mental health and substance use disorders,” said Melanie Brown-Woofter, President and CEO of FBHA. “The life-saving services our members provide are crucial to keeping Florida’s most vulnerable people safe.”

Tallahassee, Fla—The Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) hosted its annual conference, BHCon, virtually last week and set a new record for registered attendees, at over 2,000 people. This is the most the association has ever had register for its annual conference.