Brief addresses Florida’s reinvestment grant impact in behavioral health and justice systems

The Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Technical Assistance Center (TAC) at USF has released an issue brief analyzing the impact of Florida’s Reinvestment Grant Program on expanding behavioral health services and reducing criminal justice involvement for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders.
 
Despite Florida investing nearly $2 billion annually in behavioral health services, the state still ranks 49^th in access to care while having one of the highest rates of mental illness and substance use disorders in the country. This issue brief highlights key outcomes from the Reinvestment Grant Program, which has successfully diverted over $54 million in jail-day savings and served more than 12,000 Floridians. The brief also presents policy recommendations to enhance treatment access, workforce development, and community-based diversion programs that will expand the reach and impact of reinvestment grant initiatives.