The department shall work cooperatively with substance abuse facilities, mental health providers, law enforcement agencies, schools, health services providers, and other entities involved with children to establish a juvenile justice assessment center in each service district. The assessment center shall serve as central intake and screening for children referred to the department. Each juvenile justice assessment center shall provide services needed to facilitate initial screening of children, including intake and needs assessment, substance abuse screening, physical and mental health screening, and diagnostic testing, as appropriate. The entities involved in the assessment center shall make the resources for the provision of these services available at the same level to which they are available to the general public.

History.--s. 36, ch. 94-209; s. 17, ch. 97-238.

Note.--Former s. 39.0471.