Abstract
This paper will address Miami and Florida’s community mental health needs and how they are meeting the needs of individual. By exploring through empirical research and demographic this paper will examine how individuals facing homelessness, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, childhood physical and sexual abuse, and the refugee’s services that are provided. This paper will assess local and state organizations, private agencies, and religious organization on how they are providing for the needs within the community. Finally this paper will address ways that the local and state agencies can improve and steps they can make to meet the growing needs of their citizens.
Summary of needs assessment
In the year 2012 there were 28,762 refugees that arrived in the state of Florida and Miami which has called community services agencies to develop a multicultural perspective to the services they provide (Florida Department of Children and Families, 2012). The Florida Department of Children and Families has developed the Refuge Services that provide refuges with employment skills, English classes, and medical and legal services.
With the proximity to the Caribbean and Columbia they are dealing with an increase in illegal drugs so the need for drug and alcohol treatment centers for both youth and adults are needed. Miami now provides outpatient and residential facilities to meet these needs. The Miami Dade County Schools D.A.R.E. program addresses the increase need for intervention with youth in regard to alcohol and drug use (D.A.R.E., 2012). They provide psycho-educational intervention in not only working with their students but also in providing important information to parents on assessing their child for signs of abuse.
Sex trafficking and child abuse is on the rise in Miami and the state of Florida. Kristi House is the first treatment center for girls that are experiencing sex trafficking and sexual abuse (Kristi House, 2012)....