Action called ‘game changer’ for families in crisis
“A Sarasota mother once watched her 9-year-old son cycle through repeated hospitalizations after mental health crises. Each time he came home, the family felt more overwhelmed and at risk of falling apart. Stories like hers are all too common — and they highlight the urgent need for more intensive, family-centered support,” The Florida Center for Early Childhood has pointed out in a news release.
“Now, thanks to a $500,000 partnership” among The Florida Center for Early Childhood, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN), families like hers can access the Family Support Team (FST) designed to prevent repeated crises, keep children safe, and the risk of foster care or other out-of-home placements,” the release says.
“The Family Support Team is made up of specialists hired and trained by The Florida Center to work intensively with families to bring services to them in their homes, in the community, or wherever is most convenient,” the release explains. “Their role is to bring everyone connected to the child — parents, schools, doctors, counselors, and community supports — into one coordinated plan,” it continues. “By reducing stress and building stability, the team helps families stay together,” the release notes…