Florida's adolescent behavioral health system is shaped by one law more than any other: the Baker Act. If you have a teen in Florida, you need to understand what the Baker Act is, what it can and cannot do, and what happens to your teen if they're "Baker Acted." That's where this guide starts, because every Florida parent should know.
This guide also covers Florida Medicaid coverage, the Marchman Act for substance use, the Managing Entity system that organizes public behavioral health regionally, residential treatment regulation, and the gaps. The information here comes from Florida state agency sources, all linked at the bottom.
If you need help right now
988 · The national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Available statewide.
Text HOME to 741741 · Crisis Text Line.
2-1-1 · Florida's social services helpline. Most counties have 24/7 mental health information and crisis support through 211.
The Trevor Project · 1-866-488-7386 · For LGBTQ+ youth.
911 · For immediate physical danger or active medical emergency.
The Baker Act — what every Florida parent should know
The Baker Act (Florida Mental Health Act, Chapter 394 of Florida Statutes) is the law that allows a person — adult or minor — to be involuntarily examined for mental health if there is reason to believe they have a mental illness AND because of that mental illness they are likely to harm themselves or others, or are unable to care for themselves and at risk of substantial harm.
For minors specifically, this matters because:
- Minors can be Baker Acted by school personnel, law enforcement, or mental health professionals — sometimes without parents being notified before transport begins
- The initial hold is up to 72 hours at a designated receiving facility for examination
- Receiving facilities for minors must be licensed to serve children and adolescents — not all psychiatric units qualify
- Parents can also use the Baker Act to seek voluntary admission for a minor child who needs psychiatric care
- Florida has had significant controversy around overuse of the Baker Act on minors, particularly initiated through schools
If your teen is in active crisis at school and the school determines the situation requires Baker Act intervention, your teen may be transported to a receiving facility before you arrive. You have the right to be at the facility, to see your child, and to be involved in discharge planning. You do not have an automatic right to refuse the involuntary examination during the initial 72-hour period — that decision rests with the receiving facility's clinicians. Know your rights in advance, and know your local receiving facility before a crisis happens.
The Florida Department of Children and Families now operates a Baker Act data dashboard with publicly available information about utilization patterns, repeat admissions, and trends by region. This is worth reviewing if you're trying to understand how the system actually operates in your area.
The Marchman Act — for substance use
The Marchman Act (Hal S. Marchman Alcohol and Other Drug Services Act) is the substance use parallel to the Baker Act. It allows family members — a spouse or blood relative — to petition the court for involuntary assessment, stabilization, and treatment of a person with substance abuse impairment.
For families of teens with severe substance use issues:
- The Marchman Act provides a legal pathway when a teen is unable or unwilling to seek treatment
- Initial involuntary assessment can be up to 72 hours; longer holds (up to 90 days) are possible after court hearing
- The process involves the courts, not just clinicians — petitions are filed with the local circuit court
- Marchman Act treatment is not automatic — beds in Florida's substance use treatment facilities are limited, particularly for adolescents
Florida Medicaid coverage
Florida Medicaid (called the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care program, SMMC) provides comprehensive behavioral health coverage for eligible children and teens. Coverage is delivered through Managed Medical Assistance (MMA) plans contracted by the state. Major MMA plans include Sunshine Health, Simply Healthcare, Humana Healthy Horizons, Aetna Better Health, Molina, and others — depending on region.
Covered behavioral health services for adolescents include:
- Outpatient therapy (individual, group, family)
- Psychiatric medication management
- Therapeutic Behavioral On-Site Services (TBOS) — community-based treatment in homes and schools
- Behavioral Health Therapy (formerly known as Family Therapy)
- Specialized Therapeutic Foster Care
- Therapeutic Group Care
- Statewide Inpatient Psychiatric Program (SIPP) — Florida's residential mental health treatment for youth with serious emotional disturbance
- Acute Inpatient Psychiatric care
- Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs)
Statewide Inpatient Psychiatric Program (SIPP)
SIPP is Florida's primary Medicaid-funded residential treatment for youth with serious emotional disturbance. SIPP facilities are specifically licensed and accredited to provide intensive psychiatric treatment to children and adolescents under 21. Key facts:
- SIPP placements require pre-authorization based on medical necessity
- Average lengths of stay vary by clinical need but are typically several months
- SIPP facilities must meet Joint Commission accreditation standards
- The state maintains a list of approved SIPP providers; coverage is statewide but capacity is concentrated in central and south Florida
The Managing Entity system
For families without insurance, or whose Medicaid doesn't cover what their teen needs, Florida operates a Managing Entity system. Seven regional Managing Entities are contracted by the Department of Children and Families to administer state and federal behavioral health funding for the uninsured and underinsured. Each Managing Entity coordinates a network of community-based providers in its region.
Broward Behavioral Health Coalition
Managing Entity for Broward County. Coordinates Baker Act and Marchman Act receiving facilities, mobile crisis teams, and community-based behavioral health.
Thriving Mind South Florida
Managing Entity for Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.
Central Florida Cares Health System
Managing Entity for Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Brevard counties (Orlando area).
Central Florida Behavioral Health Network
Managing Entity for the Tampa Bay region — Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee, Highlands, Polk, and DeSoto counties.
Lutheran Services Florida Health Systems
Managing Entity for Northeast Florida (Jacksonville area) and parts of North Central Florida.
Northwest Florida Health Network / Big Bend Community Based Care
Managing Entities for the Florida Panhandle and parts of North Central Florida.
Families without insurance who need behavioral health support should contact their regional Managing Entity. They cannot directly enroll families in services, but they can refer to network providers who offer sliding-scale or grant-funded care.
Residential treatment regulation
Florida licenses residential mental health and substance use facilities through several agencies:
- Department of Children and Families (DCF) — licenses Crisis Stabilization Units, Residential Treatment Centers, and substance abuse facilities
- Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) — licenses freestanding psychiatric hospitals and SIPP providers
- Department of Juvenile Justice — oversees residential placements for youth in the juvenile justice system
Florida has had significant residential treatment scandals over the years — the closure of the Arthur G. Dozier School (a state-run reform school where decades of abuse came to light), multiple investigations into wilderness and "tough love" programs, and ongoing concerns about specific residential providers. The Florida Department of Children and Families maintains a public licensing database; AHCA maintains a separate one for hospital-licensed facilities. We strongly recommend checking both for any facility you're considering.
School-based mental health resources
Following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act (passed in 2018 after the Parkland tragedy), Florida significantly increased funding for school-based mental health services. Most large Florida districts now have:
- Mental health professionals at most or all campuses
- School-based threat assessment teams
- Behavioral health partnerships with community providers
- Multi-tiered systems of support for behavioral and emotional needs
Larger districts including Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Broward County Public Schools, Hillsborough County Public Schools, Orange County Public Schools, Palm Beach County, Duval County (Jacksonville), and Pinellas County all have established school-based mental health programs.
Other Florida-specific resources
NAMI Florida
State chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. HelpLine, support groups, and family-to-family education courses.
Florida Department of Children and Families — Baker Act information
Official state resource on the Baker Act, including the public data dashboard, forms, and procedural information.
Disability Rights Florida
The state's federally designated protection and advocacy agency. Provides free legal advocacy for people with disabilities, including in Baker Act and Marchman Act disputes.
Florida 211 / United Way
Statewide social services helpline, including mental health and substance use connections.
What this guide doesn't cover (yet)
Coming additions will include:
- City-specific resource pages for Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Fort Lauderdale
- A deeper walkthrough of Baker Act process specifically for parents of minors
- SIPP provider profiles based on public licensing records
- Coverage of Florida's "troubled teen industry" history and ongoing concerns
- The intersection of school-based threat assessment and Baker Act referrals
If something here is wrong or out of date, please tell us.
Sources
- Florida Department of Children and Families, "Baker Act," myflfamilies.com
- Florida Hospital Association, "The Baker Act & Marchman Act: Issue Brief," fha.org
- Broward Behavioral Health Coalition, "Baker Act/Marchman Act," bbhcflorida.org
- Florida Statutes Chapter 394 (Florida Mental Health Act / Baker Act)
- Florida Statutes Chapter 397 (Hal S. Marchman Alcohol and Other Drug Services Act)
- Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Statewide Medicaid Managed Care program
- Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act (Senate Bill 7026, 2018)