The Legislature created the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation in 2003 to oversee the publicly funded substance abuse and mental health systems. In 2004, the corporation focused on its legislative directive to review Medicaid's transition to managed behavioral health care and worked primarily with DCF and AHCA.
The corporation has not worked closely with other state agencies involved with the substance abuse and mental health systems to address its other eight statutory responsibilities. Of these, the corporation has addressed one fully, partially addressed three, and has not addressed four. To fully meet its responsibilities, the corporation should complete required memoranda of agreement with state agencies and analyze data and develop processes to improve the coordination, quality, and efficiency of the state's substance abuse and mental health programs.
The corporation is scheduled to sunset on October 1, 2006, unless reenacted by the Legislature. While the corporation's work during 2004 evinces useful beginning steps, it will be difficult to justify its continuing existence unless it more fully addresses its statutory responsibilities.

Incompetent to Proceed Adjudications Increasing
Report 08-17 March 2008
The Delays in Screening Sexually Violent Predators Increase Costs; Treatment Facility Security Enhanced
Report 08-10 March 2008
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation Made Progress But Needs More Narrow Focus
Report 06-21 March 2006
Centralizing DCF Substance Abuse and Mental Health Programs Produced Benefits
Report 06-12 February 2006

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.