Politics
Most Florida parents say youth mental health requires more than a quick fix or single solution
The vast majority of Floridians and Florida parents say there is no silver bullet to fixing the youth mental health challenge, with 80% saying it can’t be solved with quick fixes, according to new research released this week. Instead, those surveyed favor a comprehensive approach that accounts for the many pressures facing children today, as opposed to narrow strategies that only target phones and similar devices.
The findings, from the Coalition to Empower our Future (CEF), surveyed 600 Floridians — including more than 300 parents — and found strong concern about the state of youth mental health. Nearly 70% of respondents said young people in their communities struggle to access mental health support and resources when they need them. Many reported knowing children or teens dealing with mental health challenges, but not knowing where to turn for help.
“Mental health challenges among young people aren’t new, but what’s changing is our understanding of just how complex and widespread they are. Parents know this issue demands real investment, long-term thinking, and a willingness to address everything from school environments to family stress,” said former Rep. Carlos Curbelo, who serves on the coalition’s board. “This research should push all of us to act with urgency and carefully consider all of the contributing factors to youth mental health challenges.”
Parents Want More Than Single-Issue Solutions
Floridians told researchers that youth mental health is shaped by many factors — from home life and peer pressure to substance use and devices. Narrow solutions, they said, ignore the full complexity and could result in solutions that don’t address the full breadth of the challenge.
“Mental health challenges stem from multiple interconnected factors, so addressing only one is like fixing one leak while ignoring the structural problems,” one Florida parent said during online discussions accompanying the survey.
Another Florida parent said, “because youth mental health is influenced by so many contributing factors, a comprehensive approach is needed to address them all.”
Support was especially strong for practical measures, such as expanding access to counseling, providing parents with resources and training teachers to spot early warning signs.
A National Concern
Florida’s findings are part of a larger, 10-state survey conducted by CEF in partnership with Mercury Analytics. More than 6,000 voters nationwide were surveyed, alongside nearly 300 parents and voters who participated in online conversations.
Across the country, more than 70% of respondents echoed the desire for a comprehensive approach. A majority also described the state of youth mental health as “bad and getting worse.”
“Parents intuitively understand that these pressures don’t all look the same, and so we need to be looking at the challenge holistically,” said Glen Weiner, CEF’s executive director. “The research affirms this intuition and underscores an important opportunity for us to come together and have a comprehensive conversation.”
Parents also noted that youth mental health care is difficult to access and that stigma and gaps in resources often leave families on their own.
Solutions Must Be Comprehensive
The research underscores a growing demand for broader collaboration and more comprehensive solutions. Parents and voters across the political spectrum emphasized that recognizing each child’s unique circumstances is essential in crafting fulsome solutions that address the many complex root factors.
“This research shows what many parents have felt for a long time: the youth mental health challenge is complex. The struggles young people face today aren’t rooted in just one cause, and they won’t be solved with just one fix,” said January Contreras, former Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, who also serves on the coalition’s board.
According to the research, many Florida parents want solutions that reflect the real, lived complexity of youth mental health.
Post Views: 0
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis is on board with a movement to reduce the impacts of the Clean Water Act and ease some restrictions on development.
Patronis, a Republican in Florida’s 1st Congressional District in the Panhandle, voted with many of his colleagues in favor of the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT Act HR 3893). Many Republicans say the proposed measure is designed to “reduce red tape.”
The proposal “eliminated duplicative and costly Clean Water Act permit requirements that do not improve environmental safety,” according to a House GOP statement.
The PERMIT Act, drafted by U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, a Georgia Republican, would also provide amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
Patronis voted in favor of the measure, saying it’s long overdue.
“I am honored to support the passage of the PERMIT Act that will streamline … permitting, while ensuring the environment is protected,” Patronis said. “We must keep the government out of our backyards and restore power to the states.”
The measure has yet to go to the full floor of the U.S. Senate for consideration.
But the bill, according to supporters, reduces costly project delays and unnecessary litigation. It provides certainty to infrastructure builders, farmers, water utilities and small businesses, according to wording in the measure.
The bill would limit the scope of the Clean Water Act, which was originally approved by Congress in 1972. When it comes to permitting under the Clean Water Act, the new measure Patronis supports would exclude waste treatment systems, prior converted cropland, groundwater, or features that are determined to be excluded by the U.S. Army Corps Engineers.
While conservatives in Congress support the PERMIT Act, the measure has drawn criticism from environmental activist organizations.
The Hydropower Reform Coalition assailed the proposal for what it says undercuts long-standing environmental protections for many of America’s waterways.
“This prevents states from considering upstream, downstream, or cumulative impacts of projects like dams, pipelines, or large-scale developments,” a Coalition analysis said. “Enforcement authority would rest only with federal permitting agencies, leaving states unable to enforce the very conditions they might place on a project.”
Former prosecutor Robin Peguero just landed an endorsement from Miami-Dade County School Board member Joe Geller as Peguero seeks to supplant Republican U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar.
Geller, who previously served in the Florida House, as Mayor of North Bay and as Chair of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, said in a statement that Peguero “will fight for you and me in Congress.”
“Robin will fight for lower costs and affordable healthcare and housing. He’ll fight to defend the rule of law and our democracy. He’ll fight to give all our families a fair shot at the American Dream,” Geller said.
“Robin will take back this seat in Congress — and I’m proud to endorse him.”
The nod from Geller joins others from Key Biscayne Council member Franklin Caplan, Coral Gables Commissioner Melissa Castro, Cutler Bay Council member B.J. Duncan, former U.S. Rep. Donna Shalala, former state Reps. Annie Betancourt and J.C. Planas, and ex-Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey, who withdrew from the race for Florida’s 27th Congressional District and immediately endorsed Peguero in August.
Peguero also carries support from CHC Bold PAC, the campaign apparatus of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which prioritizes increasing Latino representation in Congress.
A former federal homicide prosecutor born to immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic and Ecuador, Peguero’s government bona fides include a stint as an investigator for the congressional Jan. 6 Committee and work as Chief of Staff to U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey, a Maryland Democrat.
Today, he works as a novelist and professor at St. Thomas University College of Law.
Peguero will face at least two CD 27 Primary opponents: accountant Alexander Fornino and entrepreneur Richard Lamondin.
Through the last reporting period that ended Sept. 30, Peguero raised $330,000, while Lamondin amassed $453,000 and Fornino collected $25,000.
Salazar, meanwhile, has amassed $681,000 since winning re-election to a third term last year by 21 percentage points. She also has more than $1.64 million in reserve, Federal Election Commission records show.
CD 27 — one of three Florida districts that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has highlighted as “in play” — covers Miami, Coral Gables, Cutler Bay, Key Biscayne, Pinecrest, North Bay Village, South Miami, West Miami and several unincorporated areas.
Politics
Gov. DeSantis appoints Toni Zetzsche, reups Marilyn Pearson-Adams and Gino Collura on PHSC Board
‘I had to take 60 meetings’: Jeff Bezos says ‘the hardest thing I’ve ever done’ was raising the first million dollars of seed capital for Amazon
Mariah Carey Announces She’s Performing at 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
He’s back for another buy, non-exec snaps up more Dr Martens shares
-
Politics8 years agoCongress rolls out ‘Better Deal,’ new economic agenda
-
Entertainment8 years ago
New Season 8 Walking Dead trailer flashes forward in time
-
Politics8 years ago
Poll: Virginia governor’s race in dead heat
-
Entertainment8 years ago
The final 6 ‘Game of Thrones’ episodes might feel like a full season
-
Entertainment8 years ago
Meet Superman’s grandfather in new trailer for Krypton
-
Politics8 years ago
Illinois’ financial crisis could bring the state to a halt
-
Business8 years ago
6 Stunning new co-working spaces around the globe
-
Tech8 years ago
Hulu hires Google marketing veteran Kelly Campbell as CMO