House Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #157 FLA Sexual Abuse Training Initiative
Requester:	Linda Manning		Organization:		Children's Advocacy Center
Project Title:	FLA Sexual Abuse Training Initiative		Date Submitted:		01/04/2000 3:50:36 PM
District Member:	Bill Sublette		Service Area:		Statewide
Counties Affected:	{Statewide}
Recipient:	Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Women		Contact:		Amy Maguire
	92 W. Miller Street		Contact Phone:		(407) 649-6812
	Orlando 32806
Project Description:
The Florida Sexual Abuse Training Initiative is a partnership with the University of Central Florida to educate, initiate and mentor mental health workers, potential mental health workers and other professionals. This program will be offered throughout the state in order to improve the quality of sexual abuse treatment in their communities. The training initiative will include; training professionals in appropriate mental health counseling for victims of sexual abuse, outcome measures and techniques for the evaluation and effectiveness of sexual abuse treatment. Internships and mentor programs will be implemented.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
The statewide training initiative will provide a network of education programs to better serve victims, increase in employability and long-term independent living, decrease in demand by victims on the medical and psychological service provision system, increased rates of high school graduation by treated clients, decreased incidence of continued abuse and creation of a statewide research database.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
State and University guidelines will apply. The FY 97-98 Child Protective Services Annual Statistical Report states that there were 7,442 confirmed cases of childhood sexual abuse in the state of Florida. Add to that the exponential numbers of unreported abuse and the picture becomes even more grim. Without specialized sexual abuse treatment, the majority of these child victims will experience a range of psychological and physical symptoms, some of which will be debilitating. These include severe behavioral problems, school failure, clinical depression, increase levels of anxiety and low self esteem. Research indicates that 38% of children who are sexually abused become sexual perpetrators themselves. Cost to our state if untreated or inadequately treated sexual abuse, are immense: days lost in school, increased number to Department of Juvenile Justice, demand on mental and medical services, psychiatric illnesses and future impairment of employability.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:				$300,000
Total cost of the project:		$500,000

Request has been made to fund:			Operations
Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?					No
Was this project previously funded by the State?					No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?					Yes
	Amount:	$300,000
	Purpose for future year funding:			Recurring Operations
	Will this be an annual request?				Yes
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?					Yes
	Agency:	Children And Families, Department Of
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?					Yes
Is there a documented need for this project?					Yes
	Documentation:	Comprehensive plan (see measurable outcome)
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?					No