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Crisis Stabilization Units

Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs) provide brief psychiatric intervention, primarily for low-income individuals with acute psychiatric conditions. Inpatient stays average 3 to 14 days, resulting in return to the patient's own home or placement in a long-term mental health facility or other living arrangements.

Facilities must meet licensing requirements by submission of a completed application, required documentation, and completion of a satisfactory survey. The biennial license fee is $192.00/bed.

Every Crisis Stabilization Unit must be affiliated with a Baker Act Receiving Facility prior to being licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) as a CSU. Applications for designation as a Baker Act Receiving Facility may be obtained from the Department of Children & Families (DCF). More information regarding the Baker Act is available on DCF's Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health web site: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/mentalhealth/laws/index.shtml

Initial/Change of Licensed Operator and Renewal Requirements

To renew a current state license that is due to expire, you must print the licensure application form below and submit the completed form(s) with the renewal fee prior to the expiration date of the license. Renewal applications must be received by the Agency at least 60 days prior to expiration of a license or a late fee will be assessed.

  • Completed and signed License Application Form (349K PDF).
    • NOTE: A renewal application will not be accepted if the crisis stabilization unit license is expired. An initial license application must be filed if your license has expired.
  • Health Care Licensing Application
    • , Addendum , Voluntary Board Member Affidavit, and  Affidavit of Compliance with Background Screening Requirements.
    • These forms are recommended for use beginning October 1, 2006, to comply with the reporting requirements pursuant to Chapter 408, Part II, Florida Statutes. Please provide this information in addition to the licensing application for the specific provider/facility type.
  • If accredited by JCAHO, CARF, COA, or NCQA, provide a copy of the accreditation award letter showing the beginning and ending dates of accreditation and all follow up letters.
  • Program description: Outline of program & services; resident population served, age groups admitted, and description of services to minors, if any. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)
  • Description of age groups to be admitted: Adults only, adults and children, or children only. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)
  • Description of services to children, if children are admitted. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)
  • Staffing pattern description, including the names and license or registration number of each licensed or registered person. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)
  • Table of organization for all management levels. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)
  • Resume of facility manager. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)
  • Current balance sheet for owner(s) verifying financial information for the facility.
  • Statement of operations projecting first six months income, expenses, taxes, credits, etc. (Not required for renewal applications).
  • Certificate of Insurance verifying commercial or general liability insurance coverage (minimum coverage is $300,000 per incidence and $1 million in aggregate).
  • Copy of a current Baker Act Receiving Facility designation certificate.
  • Copy of a letter verifying the Department of Children and Families has funding appropriated to support the beds requested and if funding is recurring or non-recurring (or provide a copy of the current DCF funding contract).
  • AIDS/HIV affidavit assuring required facility staff will be trained.
  • Background screening affidavit assuring required facility staff will be screened.
  • Satisfactory fire safety inspection report completed in the last 365 days.
  • Satisfactory sanitation inspection report completed in the last 365 days.

Capacity Increase or Decrease Requirements

  • Completed and signed License Application Form (349K PDF).
  • Program description, if changed from what was filed with the last AHCA application. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)
  • Provide a letter from the local Department of Children and Families, Adult Mental Health Program Manager, verifying funding has been appropriated for the requested capacity (increase or decrease) and if the funding is continuing or nonrecurring.
  • Submit a check for any additional beds requested ($96 per bed). There is no charge for a capacity decrease.

Change of Services Requirements

  • Completed and signed License Application Form (349K PDF).
  • Program description: Listing the changes planned in the program and services provided, and resident population served. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)
  • Revised staffing pattern, staff coverage, number of staff and types of staff, etc. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)

Applications/Forms

Background Screening

  • Florida Department of Law Enforcement and FBI fingerprinting screening must be completed by the managing employee (usually the chief executive officer) and the chief financial officer. Please go to the background screening section of this web site for additional documentation that must be submitted with your application.

Statute/Rule Authority


Short Term Residential Treatment Facilities

Short-term Residential Treatment Facilities (SRTs) were created to provide a step-down service for residents of Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs) needing a more extended, but less intensive level of active treatment for psychiatric conditions. These programs were created to fill a service gap between CSUs and residential treatment facilities (RTFs). SRTs may only admit adults.

Facilities must meet licensing requirements by submission of a completed application, required documentation, and completion of a satisfactory survey. The license fee is $192.00/bed.

Every SRT must be affiliated with a Baker Act Receiving Facility prior to being licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) as an SRT. Applications for designation as a Baker Act Receiving Facility may be obtained from the Department of Children & Families (DCF). More information regarding the Baker Act is available on DCF's Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health web site: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/mentalhealth/laws/index.shtml

Initial/Change of Licensed Operator and Renewal Requirements

To renew a current state license that is due to expire, you must print the licensure application form below and submit the completed form(s) with the renewal fee prior to the expiration date of the license. Renewal applications must be received by the Agency at least 60 days prior to expiration of a license or a late fee will be assessed.

  • Completed and signed License Application Form (349K PDF).
    • NOTE: A renewal application will not be accepted if the short-term residential treatment facility license is expired. An initial license application must be filed if your license has expired.
  • Health Care Licensing Application
    • , Addendum , Voluntary Board Member Affidavit, and  Affidavit of Compliance with Background Screening Requirements.
    • These forms are recommended for use beginning October 1, 2006, to comply with the reporting requirements pursuant to Chapter 408, Part II, Florida Statutes. Please provide this information in addition to the licensing application for the specific provider/facility type.
  • If accredited by JCAHO, CARF, COA, or NCQA, provide a copy of the accreditation award letter showing the beginning and ending dates of accreditation and all follow up letters.
  • Program description: Outline of program, services, and resident population served. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)
  • Staffing pattern description, including the names and license or registration number of each licensed or registered person. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)
  • Table of organization for all management levels. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)
  • Resume of facility manager. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)
  • Current balance sheet for owner(s) verifying financial information for the facility.
  • Statement of operations projecting first six months income, expenses, taxes, credits, etc. (Not required for renewal applications).
  • Certificate of Insurance verifying commercial or general liability insurance coverage (minimum coverage is $300,000 per incidence and $1 million in aggregate).
  • Copy of a current Baker Act Receiving Facility designation certificate.
  • Copy of a letter verifying the Department of Children and Families has funding appropriated to support the beds requested and if funding is recurring or non-recurring (or provide a copy of the current DCF funding contract).
  • AIDS/HIV affidavit assuring required facility staff will be trained.
  • Background screening affidavit assuring required facility staff will be screened.
  • Satisfactory fire safety inspection report completed in the last 365 days.
  • Satisfactory sanitation inspection report completed in the last 365 days.

Capacity Increase or Decrease Requirements

  • Completed and signed License Application Form (349K PDF).
  • Program description, if changed from what was filed with the last AHCA application. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)
  • Provide a letter from the local Department of Children and Families, Adult Mental Health Program Manager, verifying funding has been appropriated for the requested capacity (increase or decrease) and if the funding is continuing or nonrecurring.
  • Submit a check for any additional beds requested ($192 per bed). There is no charge for a capacity decrease.

Change of Services Requirements

  • Completed and signed License Application Form (349K PDF).
  • Program description: Listing the changes planned in the program and services provided and resident population served. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)
  • Revised staffing pattern, staff coverage, number of staff and types of staff, etc. (Optional for JCAHO, CARF, COA, and NCQA accredited facilities.)

Applications/Forms

Background Screening

  • Florida Department of Law Enforcement and FBI fingerprinting screening must be completed by the managing employee (usually the chief executive officer) and the chief financial officer. Please go to the background screening section of this web site for additional documentation that must be submitted with your application.

Statute/Rule Authority

Updated March 18, 2008
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