Contact Information
OHS History
The Office of Health Services (OHS) was established on February 21, 2005. As Florida is the third most populous state, with 31,612 juvenile arrests during FY 20-21, it is critical that DJJ have an organizational unit dedicated to the health, mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disability needs of juvenile justice-involved youth.
About OHS
The Office of Health Services (OHS), collaborates with every program area within the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), as well as other state agencies, to improve health care provided to youth in the DJJ's care.
OHS strives to ensure quality and timely care to youth in shelters and other programs administered by the Office of Prevention Services, community mental health and substance abuse assessment and treatment services contracted by the Office of Probation and Community Intervention, facility-based and community-based day treatment programs administered by the Office of Probation and Community Intervention, state-operated detention centers, and residential commitment programs.
The health care services provided in DJJ facilities and programs are procured through contracted providers. To fulfill its responsibilities to DJJ and the youth in its care and custody, the OHS provides contract standardization and enhancement, contract compliance and monitoring, youth placement reviews, assistance with medical investigations, policy, rule, and decision making, technical assistance and clinical training of medical, mental health and direct care staff, and the support of interagency collaborations.
Responsibilities
The OHS is responsible for assisting DJJ with policy development and oversight of medical, mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disability services provided to all youth placed under the supervision of DJJ. The primary goals are to:
Goals
- Ensure medical, mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disability services provided in DJJ facilities and programs are rendered by state and federal health care regulations and professional standards of care.
- Promote delivery of high-quality health care services for youth under DJJ custody or supervision.
- Assist health care staff in developing and consistently implementing necessary and appropriate medical, mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disability services in DJJ facilities and programs.
- Represent DJJ on workgroups, committees and taskforces that address physical health, mental health, and/or substance abuse.