volume 7 number 1 summer 2004
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d o e a releases mental health substance abuse report
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florida coalition in action
florida coalition in action

steering committee meets
The Florida Coalition held its first Steering Committee meeting of 2004 on March 26 in Tampa at the Department of Aging and Mental Health at the Florida Mental Health Institute, USF, with many out-of-town members participating by conference call. Agenda items included ways in which the Coalition can bring elder issues to the attention of the new Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation. In addition, the Committee decided to begin working on legislation for the 2005 session, and agreed that it would be necessary to have consensus and a draft of the proposed legislation by September 2004. Larry Dupree, Coalition Co-Chair, emphasized that the Florida Coalition wants to support the continued development of regional coalitions and will provide information and workshop sessions on how to develop a regional coalition to those who are interested.

ambassadors for aging day
Each year at the Florida Capitol, the Department of Elder Affairs presents aging issues to prepare for the coming legislative session. Aging network professionals and "grass roots" advocates, known as Ambassadors for Aging, fill the Capitol Complex for an event known as Ambassadors for Aging Day. Governor Jeb Bush, First Lady Columba Bush, Lieutenant Gov. Toni Jennings, legislators and other government officials are also invited. The purpose of the day is to inform attendees about effective advocacy, retirement trends, long-term care options, intergenerational programs, prescription drugs, and technology available to assist caregivers. The Florida Coalition participated in the March 31st event with a display that provided information about the coalition; its mission; and aging, mental health and substance abuse issues to hundreds of elders, government and provider agency staff, and others.

steve ferranteferrante wins n a s w award
The new Co-Chair of the Florida Coalition, Stephen Ferrante, was awarded the National Association for Social Workers (NASW) "Social Worker of the Year" award for Broward County. Mr. Ferrante received this honor during a ceremony on March 26th. He is the Director of the Broward County Elderly & Veterans Services Division.


2004 florida conferences

  • Florida Geriatrics Society
    July 30 – August 1, Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, Contact: Donna Jacobi, 850-478-6764 or Donna.Jacobi2@HCAHealthcare.com
  • Florida Conference on Aging
    August 30 – Spetember 2, "Aging: it's Booming", Hotel InterContinental, Miami, Contact: 850-222-8877 or conference@fcoa.org
  • 2004 National Conference on Older Adults and Substance Abuse
    June 17-18, DoubleTree Guest Suites Ft. Lauderdale Galleria, Contact: 850-878-2196 or jstachnik@fadaa.org

© 2004, Florida Coalition for Optimal Mental Health & Aging