Sheriff’s office recognized for reducing Baker Acts 15%

County Commissioner Mike Kemp, Wakulla Sheriff Jared Miller, an unidentified woman, and NWF Health CEO Mike Watkins.

Special to The Sun

NWF Health Network recognized Sheriff Jared Miller and the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office for their role in reducing the number of Baker Acts across the region by 15%.
In the wake of the 2018 Parkland shooting, Florida lawmakers passed a comprehensive new law to promote safety, prevent trauma, and intervene with youth and adults in crisis. Specifically, Mobile Response Teams (MRT’s) are required to be on-site within 60 minutes to connect those in crisis with alternatives to inpatient psychiatric treatment. The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office under agreement with NWF Health agreed to be the bridge between persons in crisis and the Apalachee Center MRT team. These teams provide emergency behavioral health assessments and begin immediate on-site treatment. Since its inception more than 90% of the mobile responses were successful in avoiding the need for a “Baker Act.” This would not be possible in rural counties without the aid of the sheriff’s office.
“Our sheriffs are critical in making this mission successful,” said Mike Watkins, CEO of NWF Health. “Sheriff Miller understands public safety and he values getting people the help they need quickly.”
“NWF Health Network has given WCSO the opportunity to help citizens in crisis immediately. The MRTs are an extremely valuable tool to assist citizens in crisis and help our deputies do their jobs more efficiently and effectively,”  said Sheriff Jared Miller.
In the northwest Florida region – the 18 counties from Escambia to Madison – we have seen a net reduction of 15% in Baker Acts (even while our population increased nearly 5%).  Perhaps most impressively, in our region, more than 10,000 children have been seen by MRTs and 90% of the responses did not result in inpatient treatment. Governor and First Lady DeSantis, and the Florida Department of Children and Families, have made the panhandle a priority and our communities are safer and healthier as a result.
NWF Health Network serves as the network management agency for child protection and behavioral health across northwest Florida.