Big Bend Community Based Care Awarded Contract from DCF to become Managing Entity for Northwest Region

April 3, 2013

The Florida Department of Children and Families has awarded a $46,397,993 per year contract to Big Bend Community Based Care to become the Managing Entity for Substance Abuse and Mental Health services for the Northwest Region. The contract officially started April 1 and is a continuation of a statewide initiative by the Department of Children and Families. The imitative, which started in 2010, shifted direct DCF management of all statewide substance abuse and mental health contracts to purchase the administration of the service contracts. The Department’s goal was to cut costs and improve the services available and delivered to those who need substance abuse or mental health treatment.

The contract with Big Bend Community Based Care for the Northwest Region includes management of multiple substance abuse and mental health service providers in Northwest Florida which includes Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Okaloosa, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Santa Rosa, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington.

“Our vision is to create local ownership of the service delivery system in our communities,” said Mike Watkins, CEO of Big Bend Community Based Care. “By doing so, we believe that the quality of life for the children and families we serve will dramatically improve and the prevalence of substance abuse and persistent mental health will dramatically decrease.”

Big Bend Community Based Care has contracted with Psychcare to meet the Managing Entity contract requirements. Psychcare is a Managed Behavioral Health Care Organization that presently serves 1.5 million persons in the State of Florida. Big Bend Community Based Care and Psychcare are excited to bring a “Community-Based” and “Care Centric” approach to the Northwest Region substance abuse and mental health safety net.