Collier mental health program advocates talk strategy, need for aid
Naples Daily NewsJun 07, 2017
That's one theme that ran through a nearly four-hour meeting Tuesday organized by
Another, more upbeat theme was how people in their respective organizations network.
That makes the local community a standout and a model in many ways because that level of networking does not exist in other communities, said
Other examples of what makes
"The collaboration is what is so powerful," Martin said. "We are positioned better than just about anyone in the country. We need to have the resources to do the work."
But more data is needed beyond what each organization collects to pursue a share of
Solis began meeting with mental health leaders about six weeks ago, and everyone was immediately on board.
The group includes the
Solis said Tuesday's public forum was a starting point for a conversation for identifying and addressing what's needed to get a better handle on the growing mental health and substance abuse crisis.
When the mosquito-based Zika virus emerged last summer in parts of the state as a possible public emergency, a plan was put together, he said. But a local plan for addressing the widespread mental health and substance abuse crisis doesn't exist, he said.
Solis said he hopes to present a proposal soon to make programs in
"Nobody is really coordinating all of the moving pieces in that chart," he said, referring to a flow chart of how the local agencies are linked. One idea might be to create an advisory panel, he said.
Beyond that, the county's policy for decades has been to not fund social service agencies beyond state mandates, and that hands-off approach has been the source of considerable angst.
Although everyone recognizes additional resources are needed, what might be needed is better allocation of resources, Solis said. He focused Tuesday on identifying "bottlenecks" that jam the system of care.
"Improvement in one area that holds the whole thing back improves all of it," Solis said.
Tuesday's presentations from the
The David Lawrence Center, off
The 30-bed crisis stabilization unit, including eight beds are for children, operates at peak capacity or beyond, he said.
Rambosk said 99 percent of jail inmates with mental health or substance abuse issues are released back into the community.
"One in 4 residents in our community have a mental health issue," he said. "If you look at the jail population, at least 1 in 4 of our inmates need mental health help."
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