Page 4 - Beth Carr News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Citizens Commission on Human Rights Diane Stein, center, and members of her organization Citizens Commission on Human Rights, have been working for years to advocate for parents and help them navigate issues involving the Baker Act. When it comes to children, Florida's law regarding involuntary commitments for psychiatric treatment is applied inconsistently. For more than 15 years, the number of children who are referred for involuntary psychiatric evaluations under the Baker Act has increased at a faster pace than any other age group. The law was not designed to be used on children and ma...

WFSU State data shows schools make up nearly a quarter of all origin points for Baker Act referrals. Data shows children who are committed under the Baker Act often are referred by school officials. School shootings and other incidents have placed more pressure on officials to intervene. The Baker Act wasn’t designed for kids, yet the number of children being sent for involuntary psychiatric evaluations has continued to go up. State data shows schools make up nearly a quarter of all origin points for Baker Act referrals. Fear of school shootings and increased pressure to regulate student...