Florida Council for Community Mental Health
316 E. Park Avenue
Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1514
850.224.6048 phone
850.224.8837 fax
www.fccmh.org

The Florida Council for Community Mental Health (FCCMH) is a statewide association of 70 community-based mental health and substance abuse agencies. The Council was formed in 1958 as an association of mental health clinic directors. Its role broadened in the 1960s and 1970s, as the focus of treatment shifted from state hospitals to communities. The association's membership expanded to include a number of agencies that specialize in substance abuse services and children's services, as well as hospital-based programs.

Each member agency is a private corporation, generally with a volunteer, citizen board of directors who are representative of the local community. These boards set policy for the agencies and serve as way to help to assure that community treatment needs are being met. FCCMH agencies receive funding from the local, state and federal government, as well as organizations such as the United Way and private foundations. Council members serve predominately low-income individuals and families.

Clients served by member agencies
Council members serve the majority of the nearly 240,000 adults and children receiving publicly-funded mental health and substance abuse services in Florida. Most clients served by member agencies are adults with serious and persistent mental illness, children with severe emotional disturbance, adults with long-term addictions, and children who are drug users or at risk of abusing drugs. Member agencies provide a range of services, including emergency services, residential treatment, outpatient services and rehabilitation and support services. These services are provided by a combined workforce of several thousand people.

Education, training and technical assistance
Providing low-cost education and training for members is a major Council role. An extensive agenda of workshops and panel presentations is presented each year at the Council's annual conference to assist agencies in meeting the continuing education needs of professional staff. Periodic one to two-day workshops and/or informational meetings are scheduled throughout the year to address other training needs. The Council also conducts studies or surveys and provides technical assistance to members to enable them to better serve their clients. Council staff members have expertise in various areas, such as Medicaid policy and procedures, professional regulation, children's mental health, managed care, etc., and are available to advise members in understanding state regulations and in addressing day-to-day operational problems.

Council organization
The Council's 23-member Board of Directors is elected by member agency directors. One of the director's seats is reserved for a consumer of behavioral health services and another for a family member. The Council receives no government funding for operating purposes. The association has nine staff members, all based at the state office in Tallahassee. Bob Sharpe is the Council's president and chief operating officer.