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Officials Look to Fix Mental Health System

Tallahassee, FL – On any given day in Florida there are over 40,000 people under correctional supervision who are severely mentally ill. This, says Judge Steven Leifman, is an issue that Florida needs to address now.

To get the policy makers talking, Leifman and other members of the Mental Health Subcommittee and Workgroup put together a proposal for restructuring the state's mental health system.

Other recommendations include: establishing a multi- tier system targeting persons who are mentally ill most likely to enter the criminal justice system; creating a statewide system of home and community based services that target the at-risk; and maximizing funding to individuals under public entitlements such as Medicaid as a start.

The committee is still in the planning process with final approval of any measures having to come from the legislature. For WFSU-FM, I'm Lynn Hatter.