Fla. Stat. § 394.4955 — Florida Code / Title XXIX / Chapter 394 / Part III / Section 394.4955
394.4955 Coordinated system of care; child and adolescent mental health treatment and support.
Status: in_force

(1) Pursuant to s. 394.9082(5)(d), each managing entity shall lead the development of a plan that promotes the development and effective implementation of a coordinated system of care which integrates services provided through providers funded by the state’s child-serving systems and facilitates access by children and adolescents, as resources permit, to needed mental health treatment and services at any point of entry regardless of the time of year, intensity, or complexity of the need, and other systems with which such children and adolescents are involved, as well as treatment and services available through other systems for which they would qualify.

(2)(a) The planning process shall include, but is not limited to, children and adolescents with behavioral health needs and their families; behavioral health service providers; law enforcement agencies; school districts or superintendents; the multiagency network for students with emotional or behavioral disabilities; the department; and representatives of the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, early learning coalitions, the Agency for Health Care Administration, Medicaid managed medical assistance plans, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and other community partners. An organization receiving state funding must participate in the planning process if requested by the managing entity. State agencies shall provide reasonable staff support to the planning process if requested by the managing entity. (b) The planning process shall take into consideration the geographical distribution of the population, needs, and resources, and create separate plans on an individual county or multicounty basis, as needed, to maximize collaboration and communication at the local level. (c) To the extent permitted by available resources, the coordinated system of care shall include the array of services listed in s. 394.495. (d) Each plan shall integrate with the local plan developed under s. 394.4573.

(3) By January 1, 2022, the managing entity shall complete the plans developed under this section and submit them to the department. By January 1, 2023, the entities involved in the planning process shall implement the coordinated system of care specified in each plan. The managing entity and collaborating organizations shall review and update the plans, as necessary, at least every 3 years thereafter.

(4) The managing entity and collaborating organizations shall create integrated service delivery approaches within current resources that facilitate parents and caregivers obtaining services and support by making referrals to specialized treatment providers, if necessary, with follow up to ensure services are received.

(5) The managing entity and collaborating organizations shall document each coordinated system of care for children and adolescents through written memoranda of understanding or other binding arrangements.

(6) The managing entity shall identify gaps in the arrays of services for children and adolescents listed in s. 394.495 available under each plan and include relevant information in its annual needs assessment required by s. 394.9082.

History: s. 3, ch. 2020-107; s. 11, ch. 2025-184.