DeSantis Budget Includes $4.8 Billion for DCF in Fiscal Year 2026-2027

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Governor Ron DeSantis announced the Floridians First Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, allocating more than $4.8 billion to the Department of Children and Families for support and modernization of the state’s continuum of care services.

Department of Children and Families Secretary Taylor N. Hatch stated the budget prioritizes fiscal stewardship while expanding behavioral health capacity and modernizing services.

Key investments in the budget include:

• $81.9 million for technology upgrades, operational improvements, and workforce enhancements to support economic self-sufficiency programs.
• $187.5 million from the Opioid Settlement Trust Fund for opioid addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery, including mobile medication-assisted treatment, court diversion programs, distribution of overdose reversal treatments, prevention campaigns, peer support, recovery housing, and additional treatment services.
• $72.7 million to increase bed capacity in state mental health facilities and community residential settings.
• $9.6 million to strengthen the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for mental health crisis support.
• $35.5 million for a new Community Based Care funding model to improve transparency, consistency of support for foster families, placement stability, and timely service delivery for children. Additional provisions include increased Maintenance Adoption Subsidies, adoption supports, a cost-of-living adjustment for foster parents, and enhanced programs for youth in Extended Foster Care.

Source: FLDCF