12/12/2020
As the program manager of the Brevard County FACT team, I cannot tell you what this additional funding and recognition for community based mental health care means to me.
It has been HARD to navigate wanting to help all those who need it and not having any increase in funding for our program since the inception of FACT here in Brevard back in 2001.
FACT not only provides wrap-around, comprehensive mental healthcare and intensive case management to those we serve in their homes and in the community, but we assist with barriers to treatment such as transportation, access to medications and safe and affordable housing. We subsidize housing, medication copays and assist those with severe and persistent mental illness who might otherwise be institutionalized to improve their quality of life and to maintain stability in the community.
Our primary client population comes to us directly at discharge from state institutions after they’ve lost everything, including any benefits, housing and community supports; but also as a diversion to state hospitalization to begin with. Our assigned state hospital has a wait list of over 250 people waiting on court orders for involuntary treatment as the hospital has placed admissions on significant holds due to COVID. These individuals remain in acute hospital units, not equipped for long term treatment, waiting for transfer.
FACT is an alternative to state hospitalization for those who have stabilized to a point that discharge is possible. It is a long-term program with limited capacity. We accommodate these priority populations as best we can, while always wanting to provide more services but being limited due to contractual specifications and most impactfully, lack of new funding, despite rising housing costs.
While I am not sure nor do I expect this to impact our county, though it is much needed, I can say that I find so much comfort knowing the type of work we do and the impact we make will expand in Florida.
Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced $23 million in funding to bolster Florida's mental health services system as well as an additional funding initiative to support first responders who have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
