The Florida Senate

 State Senator Ileana Garcia celebrated allotment of $2,500,000 in vital legislative funds she pushed to secure this past senatorial session for amplifying Citrus Health Network’s Statewide Inpatient Psychiatric Program (SIPP) this preceding Tuesday, October 18th, 2022. The initiative includes providing any necessary improvements to their present property structure, as well as developing a new in-state treatment option for at-risk community and foster care youth. Patients include adolescents suffering from severe psychiatric and behavioral issues (many of whom also happen to be victims of abuse, human trafficking, and/or within the foster care system) that have not improved from currently implemented intensive services.  

A Florida Tax Watch study from 2015 entitled Challenges Facing Florida’s Child Welfare System revealed: “…children in out-of-home care often have specific or complex needs for which appropriate services and programs either do not exist or are already at capacity…with the number of children in out-of-home care expanding, the types of services available must also grow to accommodate the most vulnerable within the population.” SIPP’s as a result, have been put into place as a solution meant to provide the much needed stability and rehabilitation necessary to successfully re-integrate clients struggling with their mental health from treatment facilities back into the community as productive and invaluable members of society. This is done by establishing individualized plans consisting of psychiatric and primary medical care in conjunction with both clinical therapy and life-skills education. 

ABOUT

Citrus Health is a non-profit organization founded in 1979 as a community mental health center devoted to treating adults and children struggling with psychiatric and behavioral disorders from all across the spectrum. As one of the leading and largest service providers in Florida, Citrus focuses on developing a personalized wellness approach designed to encompass the overall well-being of mind, body, and soul.

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For more information, contact Olivia Osrin at (305) 442. 6841 or through email at osrin.olivia@flsenate.gov