Public Policy Institute of Marion County Announces 2004 Study Topic: Mental Health Services
March 22, 2004 – OCALA - FLORIDA - To provide leadership in identifying recommendations for an improved community, the Public Policy Institute (PPI) of Marion County presents the first of a series of events related to the 2004 Study Topic: Mental Health Services on Wednesday, April 7, 2004.
Featured speaker Robert J. Constantine, Ph.D. will discuss “The State of Mental Health” in his keynote address at Central Florida Community College, 8:00-9:30 a.m. in the Building 1 Board Room. Dr. Constantine is the president of the Florida Council for Community Mental Health, Inc., a statewide association of more than 60 community mental health and substance abuse treatment agencies.
During his 25-year career in behavioral health care, Dr. Constantine previously served as Florida’s assistant secretary for alcohol, drug abuse and mental health programs. While a state mental health official, he played a lead role in development of community-based programs as alternatives to care in Florida’s state mental health institutions. A native of New York, Dr. Constantine has a master’s degree in public health from the University of Connecticut and a doctorate in sociology from Florida State University.
The PPI study will determine a recognized standard for mental health services, identify existing services in Marion County, and compare these services with the standard to identify areas of need. Study committee participation is open to the public. Please contact Crystal Flynn, Director for additional information. The study group meets for approximately four months on Wednesdays, 8:00-9:30 a.m. in the CF Building 1 Board Room. Weekly meetings feature guest speakers, followed by a discussion and study of related literature. A calendar of events and related reading materials will be posted on the PPI website. Upon completion of the study, a final report will be published in the fall.
About the PPI: PPI (Public Policy Institute of Marion County) is dedicated to advancing the public interest, building democracy and community, and improving the quality of life by involving citizens in addressing community issues.