The Florida Behavioral Health Association Applauds FL House Budget

Tallahassee, FL—As Hurricane Ian travels out of the state, millions of Floridians are struggling with no power, no water, no food and possibly with no homes or neighborhoods to return to.  According to the Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA), scores of Floridians will also be struggling with emotional effects of having to deal with such an overwhelming and catastrophic incident.

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) applauds Representative Maney, Representative Traci Koster, Senator Erin Grall, the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate for their steadfast commitment to Florida’s mental health and substance use disorder community by unanimously passing House Bill (HB) 7021.

Tallahassee, Fla.—The Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) is proud to announce that Jennifer Johnson is joining the team as the new senior director of public policy starting Monday. 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.– UnitedHealthcare and Optum, the businesses of UnitedHealth Group, have awarded a $50,000 grant to the Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) to support FBHA’s members with post-Hurricane Ian recovery. FBHA is Florida’s largest trade association representing community treatment providers.

The grant will be used to help FBHA members in Southwest Florida rebuild and recover from the impact of Hurricane Ian while they also continuing to serve clients in the region. Six FBHA members employing over 500 staff were directly impacted in cities across Lee, Charlotte, and Collier counties.

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, Fla.—Today is World Suicide Prevention Day – a time to remember those impacted by suicide, and to raise awareness of resources and services available for all Floridians, especially those who may need support.

Tallahassee, Fla.—The Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) is proud to announce that Jennifer Johnson is joining the team as the new senior director of public policy starting Monday.

Orlando, Fla. – Simply Healthcare Plans (Simply) presented the Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) a grant for $150,000 for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in Orlando on Thursday, August 18.

The CCBHC model is an innovative, integrated healthcare model developed to ensure access to coordinated comprehensive behavioral health care. CCBHCs serve anyone who needs care for mental health or substance use disorders, regardless of their ability to pay, where they live, or their age.

Tallahassee, Fla./Washington, D.C. – The Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) President and CEO, Melanie Brown-Woofter, has been awarded the Award for Individual Achievement in Advocacy from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing (National Council) during Hill Day at Home, the organization’s annual advocacy event that promotes bipartisan solutions for mental health and substance providers and patients.

The Florida Behavioral Health Association’s (FBHA) annual Awards of Excellence honor the best in its behavioral health workforce with a series of prestigious achievement awards.

“The Florida Behavioral Health Association applauds both Senate and House leadership for supporting the COVID-19 liability protection bill and including mental health and substance abuse treatment providers among those covered,” said FBHA President and CEO Melanie Brown-Woofter.

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) applauds Governor Ron DeSantis for his steadfast commitment to ensuring mental health and substance use services are available for Florida’s families and communities. His Framework for Freedom Budget includes a substantial investment in funding for behavioral health services.

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) extends its gratitude and
congratulations to Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, Chair Colleen Burton, the Florida
Senate and the Florida House of Representatives for investing in Florida’s health care workforce
by passing Senate Bill (SB) 7016.

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) offers its deepest gratitude to the Florida Legislature for its powerful message of unprecedented commitment to the well-being of Floridians by increasing funding for community mental health and substance use disorder services in its FY 2022-2023 budget.

Miami, Fla. – On Tuesday, Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez’s office joined the Florida Behavioral Health Association (FBHA) and some of its community behavioral health agencies at Citrus Health Network in Miami. Her office presented the association with a check for $500,000 to purchase and dispense Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Floridians participating in community-based substance use services.