On March 26th, Governor Rick Scott signed Executive Order 18-81 directing the Department of Children and Families to enhance collaboration with law enforcement offices in each Florida county to improve the coordination of behavioral health services of individuals in need. Executive Order 18-81 complements the provision established in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act (SB 7026) which increases the sharing of information between sheriff’s offices, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Law Enforcement and any community behavioral health providers to better coordinate services and provide prevention or intervention strategies.

DCF’s regional managing directors for each of the six regions are convening regional meetings to achieve the objections of Executive Order 18-81. Meetings are held by circuit to ensure maximum participation and optimum coordination. A minimum of three meetings are being held in 2018 to provide information and recommendations to the Statewide Executive Order Steering Committee.

At this meeting, the Northwest Region, in coordination with Big Bend Community Based Care, is convening with local partners in Circuit 2 to develop a collective plan to ensure system-wide coordination.

To watch more coverage of the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, go to our Parkland Shooting Response page.