June is Parental Rights Month: Mental Health Watchdog Calls Baker Acting of Children in Florida a Parental Rights Violation

June is recognized as Parental Rights Month, and a mental health watchdog group has raised concerns about the Baker Acting of children in Florida, labeling it as a violation of parental rights. The Suncoast Region, comprising Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas, Pasco, DeSoto, and Sarasota counties, saw the highest number of nearly 40,000 Baker Acts, which are involuntary psychiatric examinations, during the peak in 2020/2021.

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) is urging for the passing of legislation in Florida to solidify a parent’s authority in directing the mental health of their children and to eliminate the use of the involuntary Baker Act. Despite significant progress made in protecting parental rights in Florida, the CCHR stresses that more work needs to be done to safeguard children and families.

The Parents’ Bill of Rights, passed in 2021, is a step forward in securing various fundamental rights, including a parent’s right to oversee the mental health care of their children. However, the CCHR argues that Florida’s mental health law undermines this crucial right, as evidenced by the high number of Baker Acts involving children.

The CCHR notes a decrease in the number of children subjected to Baker Acts following the passage of the Parents’ Bill of Rights, but stresses that any instance of Baker Acting children constitutes a violation of parental rights. The organization highlights concerns about the profitability and potential misuse of the Baker Act as a disciplinary measure, rather than considering the involvement of willing and responsible family members in helping the children in crisis.

The CCHR calls for legislative action to prohibit the involuntary Baker Acting of individuals under 18 years old in Florida, emphasizing the importance of empowering parents to make informed decisions about their children’s mental health care. The organization advocates for the protection of parental rights and the abolition of practices that infringe upon these rights.