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Ex-DCF investigator charged with faking notes in tot death

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A former child abuse investigator surrendered Wednesday on charges that she falsified a substance abuse screening for a mother who authorities say was drinking months later when she left her 11-month-old baby to die in a hot car. Shani Smith, 35, was supposed to determine in her 2012 investigation whether Catalina Bruno’s children were safe to remain in her care and whether Bruno needed drug or alcohol treatment after the mother was charged with drinking and driving. Bruno was accused…

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Senate bill seeks additional federal Medicaid dollars for mental health and substance abuse programs

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The Senate has proposed a tandem of bills that, combined, would transform Florida’s mental health and substance abuse laws as well as increase the amount of federal Medicaid money used fund the programs. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human services will discuss two bills — released late Friday — at its March 16 meeting. The proposed bills do not not have bill numbers because they are drafts. They are contained in the committee’s meeting package. The first bill,…

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Legislators say now is the time to improve state’s mental health and substance abuse services

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A bipartisan group of House and Senate members on Tuesday announced their support of a 21-page bill that would better fund community mental health services and, among other things, establish a data collection system populated with information about individuals receiving publicly funded substance abuse and mental health disorders. In kicking off the press conference on HB 1005, veteran state Sen. Nancy Detert predicted that the state would pass legislation this year increasing funding for mental health and substance abuse services.…

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Budget cuts jeopardize state’s share of future federal money

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House lawmakers saved millions of dollars worth of mental health programs; the Senate fought off a pay reduction for state workers. But both chambers agreed to budget cuts that jeopardize the state’s share of future federal money. Those were among the results of a final conferencing between House and Senate budget chiefs as the time remaining for negotiations quickly wound down. After days of rebuffing counteroffers, the House won the battle over funding for mental health and substance abuse programs. Rep.…

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Budget cuts jeopardize state’s share of future federal money

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House lawmakers saved millions of dollars worth of mental health programs; the Senate fought off a pay reduction for state workers. But both chambers agreed to budget cuts that jeopardize the state’s share of future federal money. Those were among the results of a final conferencing between House and Senate budget chiefs as the time remaining for negotiations quickly wound down. After days of rebuffing counteroffers, the House won the battle over funding for mental health and substance abuse programs. Rep.…

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