Miami-Dade County, FL – In an upcoming decision, county commissioners are set to vote on the formation of a Miami-Dade County Mental Health Advisory Board, a pivotal step aimed at overseeing the development of mental health services within the county. The board’s responsibilities would extend to monitoring the operations of a forthcoming county mental health center, adding an essential layer of oversight and guidance.
This voluntary, 13-member board is envisioned to offer critical insights and recommendations to county commissioners concerning mental health ordinances, policies, and programs. Among its key objectives, the board will conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of mental health services in the county. Moreover, it will play a crucial role in enhancing access to mental health treatment for the local community.
Commissioner René García, the ordinance’s sponsor, emphasized the board’s role in reviewing and monitoring the management and operations of all mental health centers under Miami-Dade County’s jurisdiction. This includes the eagerly anticipated Miami-Dade Mental Health Center located at 2200 NW Second Ave. Spanning 150,000 square feet and comprising seven stories, the center is poised to provide an array of services, including a receiving center, integrated crisis stabilization unit, residential treatment, outpatient behavioral health and primary care, dental services, and optometric care. Construction is nearing completion, with the facility’s opening expected later this year.
Judge Steven Leifman, an instrumental figure in the center’s development, has been actively engaged in discussions with multiple providers to oversee various aspects of the facility, such as the short-term psychiatric wing and essential medical services.
Beyond facility oversight, the Mental Health Advisory Board’s purview encompasses evaluating program outcomes associated with mental health services provided or funded by the county, whether through its departments, grants, or third-party contracts. The board also aims to promote and support research into the causes, early symptoms, and treatment of mental health disorders.
In a bid to enhance mental health care, the board will identify and advocate for best practices while compiling a comprehensive list of mental health service providers in the county.
The proposed ordinance places the responsibility of appointing the entire 13-member board, including the chair, on the mayor. Board members, who will serve in an unpaid capacity, will assume four-year terms, with officers holding two-year terms, limited to a maximum of four years in each office on the board.
The ordinance specifies that one board member must be employed by the Public Health Trust, another by the Miami-Dade Corrections Department, and one should be a sitting county commissioner. The remaining ten members will represent various facets of mental health care, including veteran services, county law enforcement, licensed Florida mental health providers, the county’s Homeless Trust, the Miami-Dade Juvenile Justice Department, and county public schools. Additionally, the board will include individuals directly impacted by mental illness, including someone diagnosed with or who has suffered from mental illness and a family member of an individual with mental illness.
Staffing and administrative support for the board will be provided by the county.
Crucially, the legislation underscores that any ordinance establishing a new county board necessitates a detailed report from the mayor for a public hearing. A six-week interval between the ordinance’s initial reading and the public hearing is mandated, with the final vote on the advisory board’s creation scheduled following the public hearing.
The Miami-Dade County Mental Health Advisory Board represents a significant step in fostering improved mental health care and support for the community, marking a positive stride towards comprehensive mental health services.
