Fla. Stat. 394.4785
Children and adolescents; admission and placement in mental facilities

(1)

A child or adolescent as defined in s. 394.492 may not be admitted to a state-owned or state-operated mental health treatment facility. A child may be admitted pursuant to s. 394.4625 or s. 394.467 to a crisis stabilization unit or a residential treatment center licensed under this chapter or a hospital licensed under chapter 395. The treatment center, unit, or hospital must provide the least restrictive available treatment that is appropriate to the individual needs of the child or adolescent and must adhere to the guiding principles, system of care, and service planning provisions contained in part III of this chapter.

(2)

A person under the age of 14 who is admitted to any hospital licensed pursuant to chapter 395 may not be admitted to a bed in a room or ward with an adult patient in a mental health unit or share common areas with an adult patient in a mental health unit. However, a person 14 years of age or older may be admitted to a bed in a room or ward in the mental health unit with an adult if the admitting physician or psychiatric nurse documents in the case record that such placement is medically indicated or for reasons of safety. Such placement must be reviewed by the attending physician or a designee or on-call physician each day and documented in the case record.

Source: Section 394.4785 — Children and adolescents; admission and placement in mental facilities, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0394.­4785 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

394.451
Short title 394.453
Legislative intent 394.455
Definitions 394.457
Operation and administration 394.458
Introduction or removal of certain articles unlawful 394.459
Rights of patients 394.460
Rights of professionals 394.461
Designation of receiving and treatment facilities and receiving systems 394.462
Transportation 394.463
Involuntary examination 394.464
Court records 394.467
Involuntary inpatient placement and involuntary outpatient services 394.468
Admission and discharge procedures 394.469
Discharge of involuntary patients 394.473
Attorney’s fee 394.475
Acceptance, examination, and involuntary placement of Florida residents from out-of-state mental health authorities 394.4572
Screening of mental health personnel 394.4573
Coordinated system of care 394.4574
Responsibilities for coordination of services for a mental health resident who resides in an assisted living facility that holds a limited mental health license 394.4593
Sexual misconduct prohibited 394.4595
Florida statewide and local advocacy councils 394.4597
Persons to be notified 394.4598
Guardian advocate 394.4599
Notice 394.4612
Integrated adult mental health crisis stabilization and addictions receiving facilities 394.4615
Clinical records 394.4625
Voluntary admissions 394.4655
Orders to involuntary outpatient placement 394.4672
Procedure for placement of veteran with federal agency 394.4685
Transfer of patients among facilities 394.4781
Residential care for psychotic and emotionally disturbed children 394.4784
Minors 394.4785
Children and adolescents 394.4786
Intent 394.4787
Definitions 394.4788
Use of certain PMATF funds for the purchase of acute care mental health services 394.4789
Establishment of referral process and eligibility determination 394.46715
Rulemaking authority 394.47865
South Florida State Hospital 394.47891
Veterans treatment court programs 394.47892
Mental health court programs

Current through Fall 2025

§ 394.4785. Children & adolescents; admission and placement in mental facilities's source at flsenate​.gov