Florida Association of Managing Entities CEO Natalie Kelly today issued the following statement after Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Chris Sprowls, selected Ann M. Berner, CEO of Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network, to serve on the new statewide Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse. Governor Ron DeSantis and the Legislature established the 19-member commission to examine the state’s current behavioral health care services and programs, identify barriers to care, and offer recommendations for future best practices.
“Florida’s Managing Entities applaud Governor DeSantis and leaders of the Legislature for their steadfast dedication to improving mental health and substance use services for all Floridians. We commend the Speaker’s selection of Ann Berner for the Commission, as she brings extensive experience from the behavioral health care sphere developing national best-practice models for serving Florida’s safety net system. As CEO of Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network, she has developed a deep understanding of statewide mental health and substance use concerns and is a leader in responding to behavioral health crises that impact her community. Under her leadership, her Managing Entity has been at the forefront of care coordination and children’s mental health in treating individuals’ complex and diverse mental health and substance use issues, and her inclusion on this commission will help improve care for all Floridians.”
Florida’s seven Managing Entities oversee a network of about 300 health care provider organizations delivering behavioral health services, including mental health and substance use disorder treatment, to more than 320,000 uninsured Floridians. Providers meet patients’ diverse needs with “wraparound services” that address mental health and substance use issues and assist with housing, transportation, and employment.
About the Florida Association of Managing Entities
The Florida Association of Managing Entities (FAME) is the statewide organization representing Florida’s seven Managing Entities. FAME’s mission is to advance the behavioral health recovery of individuals and their families in the state of Florida.
