Fla. Stat. § 984.11
Services to families
Redline — January 1, 2011 → current.View current text →
Current — January 1, 2025
As of January 1, 2011
(1) Services and treatment to families in need of services shall be by voluntary agreement of the parent or legal guardian and the child or as directed by a court order pursuant to s. 984.22.
(1) The department or its authorized agent shall provide an array of voluntary family services aimed at remediating school truancy, homelessness, and runaway and ungovernable behavior by children. Services to families in need of services shall be by voluntary agreement of the parent, legal guardian, or custodian and the child.
(2) A family is not eligible to receive voluntary family services if, at the time of the referral, the child is under court-ordered supervision by the department for delinquency under chapter 985 or court-ordered supervision by the Department of Children and Families under chapter 39. A child who has received a prearrest delinquency citation, or is receiving delinquency diversion services, may receive voluntary family services.
(3) If there is a pending investigation into an allegation of abuse, neglect, or abandonment, the child may be eligible for voluntary family services if the Department of Children and Families agrees to the provision of services and makes a referral. An interagency agreement between the department and the Department of Children and Families shall govern this referral process, which is contingent on available funding. The department must notify the Department of Children and Families if a referral is declined.
(4) These services may include, but need not be limited to: (a) Parent aide services. (b) Intensive crisis counseling. (c) Parent training. (d) Individual, group, or family counseling. (e) Referral to community mental health services. (f) Prevention and diversion services. (g) Services provided by voluntary or community agencies. (h) Runaway center services. (i) Runaway shelter services. (j) Referral for special educational, tutorial, or remedial services. (k) Referral to vocational, career development, or employment services. (l) Recreational services. (m) Assessment. (n) Case management. (o) Referral for or provision of substance abuse assessment or treatment.
(3) The department shall advise the parents or legal guardian that they are responsible for contributing to the cost of the child or family services and treatment to the extent of their ability to pay. The department shall set and charge fees for services and treatment provided to clients. The department may employ a collection agency for the purpose of receiving, collecting, and managing the payment of unpaid and delinquent fees. The collection agency must be registered and in good standing under chapter 559. The department may pay to the collection agency a fee from the amount collected under the claim or may authorize the agency to deduct the fee from the amount collected.
(4) The department may file a petition with the circuit court to enforce the collection of fees for services and treatment rendered to the child or the parent and other legal custodians.
(5) The department shall advise the parents, legal guardian, or custodian that they are responsible for contributing to the cost of the services to the extent of their ability to pay. The parent is responsible for using health care insurance to the extent it is available for the provision of health services.
Official source: Online Sunshine (Florida Legislature). Reproduced from public-domain Florida statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.