JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida's First Lady Casey DeSantis spoke about the goals of her Hope for Healing initiative while visiting First Coast High School in Jacksonville Monday morning.
DeSantis was at First Coast High School alongside the Commissioner of Education and the Secretary of the Agency for Healthcare Administration.
While there, DeSantis discussed how her initiative is an investment into the people of Florida in times of the opioid crisis and rising mental health awareness.
"Making sure that they are getting meaningful help and good outcomes is only going to pay off in major dividends not only for their well-being ... but also from a monetary perspective," she said. "When we look at people contributing the state economy -- it's just the right thing to do."
DeSantis explained that the initiative started as a collaboration between agencies such as the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Children and Families, Education and the Healthcare Administration.
However, DeSantis says she plans to expand the initiative's working relationship with more local entities such as law enforcement and faith-based organizations, especially to help children affected by the opioid crisis.
"Children are getting lost in that system," she said. "There are some terrible stories of parents who are not capable of caring for their kids and their winding up in the foster care systems."
DeSantis also announced plans to help children struggling with mental health issues.
"This Wednesday, the Commissioner of Education is presenting before the State Board of Education a Mental and Emotional Health Education rule," she said. "This rule would require grades six through 12 to provide five hours of mental health training in schools.
The training would include mental health first aid, recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental health and what to do if one recognizes the symptoms.