$12 million expansion of behavioral health services for first responders

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Department of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Shevaun Harris announced the award winners of the $12 million procurement of behavioral health services for Florida’s first responders and their families.

These services will connect first responders to a provider or peer who is trained to provide referrals, information, and counseling. For more information, click here.

“We are happy to announce the expansion of additional behavioral health service providers for first responders in each region,” said DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris.

“These local vendors are experts in their field and will provide much-needed prevention and early intervention services to Florida’s first responders and their families.”

The providers chosen for each region are the following:

• Florida A&M University: Northwest Region
• Lutheran Services Florida Health Systems: Northeast Region
• UCF RESTORES: Central Region
• Crisis Center of Tampa Bay: SunCoast Region
• 211 Broward: Southeast Region

In December 2021, First Lady Casey DeSantis announced $12 million in funding to implement or expand behavioral health services, such as peer-to-peer supports, throughout the state. In addition to local behavioral health services, the procurement also includes the creation of a toolkit for local first responder agencies.

This toolkit will contain resources for improving behavioral wellbeing and stress management through employee training. Florida A&M University has been chosen to create the toolkit.

To learn more about the new Peer-to-Peer Behavioral Health Services for First Responders, visit www.myflfamilies.com/FirstResponderResiliency.