Rep. David Silvers visited the University of South (USF) Florida Tampa campus to discuss the work of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI) related to HB 945, the Children’s Mental Health bill. Passed in 2020, HB 945 tasked FMHI with developing a model response protocol for schools to use mobile response teams, thereby facilitating access to mental health and substance abuse treatment and services.
During his visit to USF, Silvers was updated on the institute's implementation of mobile response teams and crisis stabilization services and toured Gracepoint to see firsthand how the program works.
The group meets in the Dr. Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions building.
Silvers met with FMHI Executive Director Kathleen Moore, PhD, Department of Mental Health Law and Policy Associate Professor of Instruction Nicoleta Zenn, EdS, NCSP; Department of Child and Family Studies Associate in Research Cathy Sowell, MSW, LCSW; Melissa Carlson; and USF Director of State Government Relations Lauren Hartmann. Candi Spitz, development director for 211 Palm Beach County, also visited alongside Rep. Silvers.