LSF Invited to Negotiate for

Mental Health Management

Proposal to DCF Covers an 11-County Area

3 August 2009 - TLW

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) has been selected by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to negotiate for a $138 Million contract to become the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Managing Entity (SAMHME) for 11 counties along Florida's Gulf Coast.

The proposal that was submitted by LSF calls for the formation of SunCoast Community Services, a new non-profit management organization, that will "provide a truly independent and community-based alternative to managing mental health and substance abuse programs in the region," said LSF CEO Samuel Sipes.

"Because SunCoast Community Services is unaffiliated with providers, it will offer a client-centered alternative for the Department of Children and Families for the benefit of both adults and children seeking treatment," explained Sipes. 

He went on to say that a series of town hall meetings would be held on Mon. and Tue., Aug. 17 and 18 to discuss the proposal and solicit input from consumers, providers and other stakeholders.  The meeting schedule and locations are as follows:

• Naples – Mon., Aug. 17 - 10-11:30 a.m. - Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 777 Mooring Line Dr. in the Community Room

• Ft. Myers – Mon., Aug. 17 - 2–3:30 p.m. - Zion Lutheran Church, 7401 Winkler Rd. in the Fellowship Hall

• Sarasota - Tue., Aug. 18 - 9-10:30 a.m. - Faith Lutheran Church, 7750 Beneva Rd.

• Clearwater - Tue., Aug. 18 - 1-2:30 p.m. - Providence Service Corporation, 4910-D Creekside Drive

• Tampa - Tue., Aug. 18 - 4-5:30 p.m. - Messiah Lutheran Church, 14920 Hutchison Road.

Although DCF currently funds mental health and substance abuse programs in the Suncoast region, the LSF proposal brings these together under a single community-based management organization.  The counties included in the new contract arrangement are:  Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, DeSoto, Sarasota, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee.

"LSF has crafted a response to DCF's Invitation to Negotiate that leverages our considerable history and experience providing and managing services across Florida and particularly in our eight offices in the Suncoast Region," said Sipes.  "We bring 27 years of not-for-profit management experience and a commitment to the Suncoast region through such programs as refugee resettlement, employment services, child welfare and family counseling."

With this proposal, Sipes adds that "LSF has put together a team of experts that includes Providence Service Corp., Pyschcare, LLC and Five Points Technology Group, all of whom bring years of experience managing public substance abuse and mental health systems of care and will be a part of the management team for SunCoast Community Services."

Negotiations for the four year contract with DCF are scheduled to begin Aug. 12.  Once awarded, the contract will begin Nov. 1.

Lutheran Services Florida is a statewide human services agency offering more than 60 social service programs with a staff of over 500 employees.  LSF has served more than 800,000 people since its founding in 1982.  For more information about Lutherans Services Florida, see www.lsfnet.org.

For inquiries, contact Thomas L. Weitzel, LSF Communications at tweitzel@lsfnet.org or by calling 813-676-9529.

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