Florida Coalition for Optimal Mental Health & Aging Newsletter, Winter/Spring 2004, Vol 7, No 1

florida substance abuse & mental health corporation begins its work
In 2003, the Florida Legislature created the Florida Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation as a non-profit corporation to provide oversight and policy recommendations for the publicly funded substance abuse and mental health systems in Florida. The Corporation is under the direction of the Legislature and works with the Department of Children and Families, the Agency for Health Care Administration, and other state agencies to establish fully developed and integrated substance abuse and mental health systems in the state.

Governor Jeb Bush appointed Dr. Dotti Lewis of Daytona Beach to chair the Corporation. Dr. Lewis is president of Einhorn and Lewis, Inc., a public relations and research firm. She has long been active in mental health issues in Volusia and Flagler counties and serves as a court-appointed guardian advocate. She is assistant director of PROJECT CARE, INC., which provides holiday gifts for persons with mental illness living in group homes and household items for those ready to begin independent living.

Others appointed to the Corporation are:

Appointed by the Governor
Melanie G. May, Ft. Lauderdale, Judge, Fourth District Court of Appeals.
Jeane A. McCarthy, Bradenton, physician, West Coast Neonatology.
Rocky R. Rodiguez, Ft. Lauderdale, Director, Broward County Property Appraiser.
Appointed by the Senate President
Bill Mellan, Tampa, Professor of Psychology, Hillsborough Community College and training director for Law Enforcement Community Relations Program.
Susan Latvala, St. Petersburg, Pinellas County Commissioner, advocate for people with mental illnesses.
Conni Wells, Crawfordville, Executive Director of the Florida Institute for Family Involvement, advocate for children with disabilities and their families.
David Miller, St. Petersburg, retired utilities company president, former member of Boley Center's Board of Directors.
Appointed by the Speaker of the House
Larry D. Hart, Ft. Myers, Assistant Tax Collector for Lee County, former Ft. Myers police chief.
Joseph (Joe) P. George, Jr., Miami, attorney, designated public guardian, served as special master for Baker Act hearings.
Robert Charles Bernstein, Pompano Beach, President of Spectrum Health Solutions, former president of the Workers Compensation Medical Centers.
Patricia M. (Pat) Barton, Naples, founder of Florida Informed Parents and the National Federation of Parents for Drug-Free Youth, served as a consultant to NIDAA, NIDA, Florida Drug Control Office.
Ex Officio Members
Jerry Regier, Tallahassee, Secretary, Department of Children and Families.
Rhonda Medows, Tallahassee, Secretary, Agency for Health Care Administration.
Jennifer Finn, Lake City, Columbia County Commissioner.

At the Corporation’s first meeting in Tampa in December 2003, board member Joseph P. George, Jr. was elected vice chairman, and board member David Miller was elected secretary-treasurer. During the March meeting in Orlando, Ellen Piekalkiewicz was hired as the Corporation’s executive director, and a preliminary course of action was set.

For more information, please contact Ellen Piekalkiewicz at 850-410-1576.

The Central Florida Coalition on Mental Health and Aging was recently established. The Coalition has met monthly since December 2003, and has a membership of more than 20 participants representing a broad range of services to older adults. A first priority of the Coalition is to assist in the planning of the October 2004 Annual Florida Coalition Conference. The Central Florida Coalition has identified advocacy and education as key elements of its mission. Meetings: 9:00 am on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Orange County Health and Family Services Office. For more information, contact Mabel Johnson, 407-228-1800.

regional coalition meeting

Following the 6th Annual Conference in October 2003, the Broward Older Adult Workgroup partnered with the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling to present the conference "Older Adults and Gambling: Recreation or Risk?" in Fort Lauderdale on March 19, 2004. This conference, with 150 participants, included presenters Dr. Larry Dupree, Coalition Co-Chair, Secretary Terry White, Florida Department of Elder Affairs, and Florida Drug Control Office Director James McDonough. Currently, the Workgroup is developing a local strategic plan to enhance elder behavioral health services. Meetings: 2:00 pm on the 4th Friday of each month at the Broward County Elderly and Veterans Services office. For Workgroup information, contact Stephen Ferrante, 954-537-2805.

Established in January 2003, a local work group evolved into the Suncoast Regional Coalition, and now covers Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties. Its major goal is to bring together local professionals and resources to address behavioral health care issues. Meetings: 9:30 am on the 4th Friday of each month at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. The Regional Coalition is working on several projects, including a resource card for seniors, a one-day local conference, and community education. For more information contact, Lisa Smiler, 813-960-1848.