Cordial To Serve On Florida Supreme Court Task Force
By Space Coast Daily // August 13, 2012
Group Advises Justices on Topical Issues
BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA – Gail Cordial, executive director of Florida Partners in Crisis, will serve another two years on a substance abuse and mental health task force reporting to the state Supreme Court.
The group was created in 2010 and recently was extended until 2014 by order of Chief Justice Ricky Polston.
“The work of this group in helping the state and its courts best deal with individuals with alcoholism, drug abuse or mental illness is critical,” Cordial said. “I am thrilled to continue to be part of it.”
Among the tasks Polston assigned the group, relating to people with substance abuse or mental health issues:
• Develop a resource guide for judges and others for helping veterans.
• Help develop recommendations on training for judges.
• Offer guidance on the continuation of the expansion of the “post-adjudication drug court.”
• Study how to best focus programs and resources.
• Promote recommendations from the “Transforming Florida’s Mental Health System” report.
More than two dozen people are serving on the task force, including judges, law enforcement and experts statewide in mental health and substance abuse treatment and veterans issues.
Florida Partners in Crisis is a non-profit organization that brings together the criminal justice, mental health and substance abuse systems to increase public safety and improve lives.
