Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #732 Family Emergency Treatment Center
Requester:	Christine Cauffield		Organization:		Coastal Recovery Centers, Inc. & First Step, Inc.
Project Title:	Family Emergency Treatment Center		Date Submitted:		01/26/2000 3:26:05 PM
District Member:	Lisa Carlton		Service Area:		Regional
Counties Affected:	Sarasota
Recipient:	Coastal Recovery Centers, Inc. & First Step, Inc.		Contact:		Colleen Thayer
	3830 Bee Ridge Road		Contact Phone:		(941) 927-8900
	Sarasota 34233
Project Description:
The Family Emergency Treatment Center (FETC) is a 24-hour, seven day a week emergency walk-in clinic for mental health and substance abuse. The mission of the FETC is to provide short-term intervention for clients coping with crisis mental health or substance abuse issues. We will support and empower individuals, regardless of age or income, to take an active role in their own recovery. Designed like the emergency walk-in clinics for acute physical care, the FETC provides a range of services that meet the immediate behavior needs of the consumer, and is staffed 24 hours a day by psychotherapists, care managers, and clinical support specialists. Board-certified psychiatrists are available by appointment to provide emergency medication evaluations. During the 1998 Legislative Session, funding was appropriated to open the FETC in Manatee County. The center opened on December 15, 1998, and became fully operational with 24-hour services on June 6, 1999. Continued funding for the project was appropriated during the 1999 session, as well as $750,000 in capital funds to build a permanent site closer to its intended constituency. Funding is now requested to continue the FETC in Manatee County, and to expand operations into Sarasota County.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
The Family Emergency Treatment Center provides immediate intervention for persons suffering from mental health and substance abuse problems. Prior to its inception, substantial gaps existed in the local service delivery system. Persons who experienced mental health or substance abuse crises often endured long waiting lists, or were forced to access intrusive and inappropriate treatment in emergency rooms or crisis stabilization units. In addition, the high costs for this treatment were borne by taxpayers and private providers. By offering 24 hour/7 day a week intervention and assessment, a seamless level of care is provided, and there is increased convenience and assessibility regardless of ability to pay. In the past year, it has been found that the gaps in the local system were not unique to Manatee County. The attention the Family Emergency Treatment Center has received in Florida shows that gaps in the mental health service delivery system is a statewide problem. As evidence of this, in the past year, eight other communities in Florida have either opened FETC's, or are in various stages of planning.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
In its first contract year, the Family Emergency Treatment Center met all performance contract outcome measures mandated by the Department of Children and Families, indicating its success in meeting the needs of the community and its good stewardship of state funds. The FETC also commissioned an independent review by Englehardt and Associates, a Tampa based consulting firm with 28 years of experience in behavorial healthcare. The purpose of the review was to objectively measure the FETC's impact in Manatee County. The review stated that "Over 1,615 unduplicated persons were served in the first year, with approximately one third of them diverted from more restrictive and costly services." "Based on the first year diversions", the report states, "FETC is saving approximately $500,000 in publicly financed inpatient services." The FETC has also reduced the substantial misuse of law enforcement resources that occurs when an individual with mental health and substance abuse problems cannot readily access appropriate services in a timely manner. Local officials estimate that law enforcement personnel spent 1,000 additional hours on the street because of time saved through effective utilization of the Family Emergency Treatment Center. The FETC has clearly and objectively demonstrated its value in satisfying previously unmet need, and in actual cost savings to the community. As it continues to grow, and expands into Sarasota County, the human and financial benefits to the area will increase as well.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:				$1,000,000
Total cost of the project:		$1,333,333

Request has been made to fund:			Operations
Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?						Yes
				In-Kind Amount:		$333,333
Was this project previously funded by the State?						No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?						Yes
	Amount:	$1,000,000
	Purpose for future year funding:				Recurring Operations
	Will this be an annual request?					Yes
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?						Unknown
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?						Unknown
Is there a documented need for this project?						Yes
	Documentation:	Community needs assessment and completed evaluation component for current operations in Manatee Cnty
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?						Yes
	Hearing Body:	Sarasota County Legislative Delegation
	Meeting Date:	10/01/1999