Local Advocacy Council
The Florida Statewide Advocacy Council and Local Advocacy Council system
The Florida Statewide Advocacy Council originated in 1975 as the State Human Rights Advocacy Committee. The existing system has been in place since 1975, composed of fifteen service areas, each with multiple Local Advocacy Councils. Today there are over twenty-five councils operating in Florida with over two hundred fifty volunteers.
What is the Local Advocacy Council?
The Local Advocacy Council (LAC) is a consumer protection group. It is comprised of individuals from the community who have an interest in making sure that children, the aging, and persons with disabilities receive their basic human rights and services. Members are appointed by the Governor and include attorneys, homemakers, ministers, physicians, social workers, educators, nurses, retired persons, psychologists, disabled persons, and others who are interested in advocacy. Appointments are for four years and councils are designated to operate with seven to fifteen council members. There are three types of councils available to each service area, Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health, and an all encompassing Multi-Program council. The number of councils in a service area depends on the number of volunteers.
What do Local Advocacy Councils Do?
There are three types of Local Advocacy Councils:
Mental Health: Members of this LAC help people who receive mental health services including treatment for abuse of drugs and alcohol. The members of these councils may monitor state operated or funded programs and facilities such as state hospitals. These members also conduct investigations from complaints received. Based on the results of their investigations the LACs will make recommendations to correct and prevent abuse and neglect.
Developmental Disabilities: Members of this LAC help people with developmental disabilities receiving needed care and treatment. Members may conduct on-site monitoring visits to facilities and group homes. This includes observing the fairness and safety of developmental disabilities programs.
Multi-Program: Members of this LAC work to protect the rights of people involved in daycares, group homes, foster care, welfare, and all other programs not covered by other LACs. In areas where this is the only active council the Multi-Program councils also absorb the cases otherwise handled by Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities councils.
Each council operates by monitoring sites and investigating complaints made to the Local Advocacy Council regional offices. Council members monitor facilities like: State Hospitals, Baker Act Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities, and Group Homes. Foster Homes, Day Care Centers, DCF Access Service Centers, and Day Training locations are also monitored to ensure recipients are obtaining the best available services. Investigations focus on individual claims of rights violations or neglect.
You are eligible for help from the Statewide Advocacy Council and the Local Advocacy Councils if you are a client of:
- The Agency for Persons with Disabilities
- The Agency for Health Care Administration
- The Department of Children and Families
and
- You have not received a program or a service to which you are entitled.
or
- You have been abused or neglected or have been denied rights.