FL S1144

Establishes the Florida Veterans' Care Coordination Program within the Department of Children and Families to provide behavioral healthcare referral services, especially mental health and substance abuse services, to veterans and their families in all department service districts.

Models the program after a 2014 pilot conducted by the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and the Department of Veterans' Affairs in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Manatee Counties.

Sets three program goals: prevent veteran suicides in Florida, increase veteran use of agency services, and increase Veterans Administration funding for state services to reduce state costs.

Requires care coordination teams to provide telephonic peer support, crisis intervention, suicide assessment, treatment coordination, safety planning, and resource coordination to ensure veterans access VA and community-based programs.

Appropriates $2 million in recurring General Revenue Fund dollars to the Department of Children and Families for fiscal year 2015-2016 to implement the program, effective July 1, 2015.